On the first cohomology of cocompact arithmetic groups (Q1126312)

Let \(G\) be a real semisimple Lie group, \(\Gamma \subset G\) an irreducible cocompact lattice, and \(\rho\) a finite dimensional irreducible representation of \(G\). Results of Matsushima and Raghunathan imply that \(H^1(\Gamma, \rho)\) is zero unless possibly \(G\) is \(SO(n,1)\) or \(SU(n,1)\) and the highest weight of \(\rho\) is an integral multiple of that of the standard representation. This paper deals with these remaining cases. The author shows that every cocompact arithmetic lattice in \(SO(n,1)\) contains a subgroup, \(\Delta\), of finite index whose first cohomology is non-zero if the representation is one of the above special types.