First integrals on step-two and step-three nilpotent Lie groups

The goal of this paper is the study of algebraic relations on the Lie algebra of first integrals of the geodesic flow on nilpotent Lie groups equipped with a left-invariant metric. It is proved that the isometry algebra of the $k$-step nilpotent Lie group, $k=2,3$, gives rise to a isomorphic family of first integrals for the geodesic flow. Also invariant first integrals are analyzed and new involution conditions are shown. Finally it is proved that in low dimensions complete families of first integrals can be constructed with Killing vector fields and symmetric Killing 2-tensor fields. This holds for k-step nilpotent Lie algebras of dimension $m\leq 5$ and $k=2,3$. The situation in dimension six is also studied.