Convex projective structures on nonhyperbolic three-manifolds (Q1746311)

A properly convex projective \(n\)-manifold is the quotient \(\Gamma \backslash \Omega\) of a properly convex domain \(\Omega\) in the real projective space \(\mathbb R\mathbb P^n\) by a discrete group \(\Gamma\) of projective transformations preserving \(\Omega\). Hyperbolic structures are special examples of convex real projective structures but many nonhyperbolic manifolds admit such structures as well. By work of \textit{Y. Benoist} [Invent. Math. 164, No. 2, 249--278 (2006; Zbl 1107.22006)], if a closed irreducible 3-manifold admits an indecomposable properly convex projective structure then its canonical torus-decomposition into geometric manifolds in the sense of Thurston contains only hyperbolic manifolds. In the present paper, a partial answer to the converse problem is given: if the torus-decomposition of a closed irreducible 3-manifold contains only hyperbolic pieces, does the 3-manifold admit a properly convex projective structure? ``We show that a cusped hyperbolic 3-manifold may, under certain assumptions, be deformed to convex projective structures with totally geodesic torus boundary. Such structures may be convexly glued together whenever the geometry at the boundary matches up.'' In particular, if the interior of a compact 3-manifold \(M\) with torus-boundaries admits a finite-volume hyperbolic structure which is infinitesimally projectively rigid rel boundary then the double \(N = 2M\) along the boundary admits a properly convex projective structure, and hence the fundamental group \(\pi_1N\) admits a discrete faithful representation into the linear group \(\text{SL}_4\mathbb R\). \textit{P. Przytycki} and \textit{D. T. Wise} showed [J. Am. Math. Soc. 31, No. 2, 319--347 (2018; Zbl 06836097)] that any mixed 3-manifold, i.e. with a non-trivial torus-decomposition with at least one hyperbolic piece, and in particular every 3-manifold \(N = 2M\) as before, has linear fundamental group, but without control on the dimensions of a linear representation. \textit{J. O. Button} showed [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 218, No. 9, 1604--1619 (2014; Zbl 1287.57001)] that there exist 3-manifold groups without a linear representation in dimension 4 or lower. As the authors note, the assumption of infinitesimal projective rigidity rel boundary is satisfied for many hyperbolic 3-manifolds, but fails for example when the hyperbolic structure contains a totally geodesic surface. ``In the setting of cusped hyperbolic manifolds, it is not yet known in what degree of generality infinitesimal projective rigidity rel boundary will hold. Nonetheless, the theorem gives a large new source of examples of convex projective structures on nonhyperbolic 3-manifolds.''