Proper actions of lattices on contractible manifolds (Q1401449)

Let \(G\) be a connected semisimple Lie group and \(K\) a maximal compact subgroup of \(G\). By a theorem of Mal'cev and Iwasawa the homogeneous space \(G/K\) (even without the assumption of semisimplicity) is a contractible manifold. Every lattice \(\Gamma\subset G\) acts properly discontinuously on \(G/K\). The main result of this paper is Theorem 1.1. If \(\Gamma\) acts properly discontinuously on a contractible manifold \(W\), then \(\dim W\geq \dim G/K\). Some important cases are discussed, e.g., when \(\Gamma= \text{SL}_n (\mathbb{Z})\subset G= \text{SL}_N(\mathbb{R})\) focusing on \(n= 3\). The method of proof is based on the paper [\textit{M. Bestvina}, \textit{M. Kapovich} and \textit{B. Kleiner}, Invent. Math. 150, 219--235 (2002; Zbl 1041.57016)], see the following review.