On deformations of \(F_n\) in compact Lie groups (Q1001397)

Let \(G\) be a connected compact non-abelian group and \(\{s_1,s_2,\cdots, s_n\}\) a generic \(n\)-tuple in \(G\). The author shows that if \(n\geq 3\) and \(\Gamma\leq G\) is a \((n-1)\)-generated dense subgroup of \(G\), then the tuple admits an arbitrarily small deformation \(\{t_1,t_2,\cdots, t_n\}\) with \(\Gamma=\langle t_1,t_2,\cdots, t\rangle\), which is equivalent to that \(\{f\in \text{Hom}(F_n,G)|f(F_n)=\Gamma\}\) is dense in \(\text{Hom}(F_n,G)\). This property was conjectured by G. Margulis and G. Soifer. To obtain the result the case where \(G\) is a compact semisimple Lie group is first treated. In this case we can use product replacement moves realized by Nielsen transformations and obtain the stronger result that the action of \(\text{Out}(F_n)\) on \(\text{Hom}(F_n,G)/G\) is ergodic. This was also conjectured by W. Goldman. Then the general case follows by applying this to the commutator group \(G'\) of \(G\). When \(n=2\), we cannot use the product replacement moves. However, the author proves that there exists an arbitrarily small deformation \(\{t_1,t_2\}\) such that \(\langle t_1,t_2\rangle\) is dense in \(G\) and has the Serre's property (\text{FA}).