Volume entropy of Hilbert metrics and length spectrum of Hitchin representations into \(\mathrm{PSL}(3,\mathbb{R})\) (Q2359432)

We call an open domain in \(\mathbb{R}\mathbf{P}^n\) convex if its intersection with any projective line is connected and we call the domain proper if it does not contain an entire projective line. The proper, convex open domains in \(\mathbb{R}\mathbf{P}^n\) endowed with a natural Finsler metric for which projective segments are geodesics are known to be examples of Hilbert geometry. In particular, if the convex domain is a ball, we obtain the Klein model of hyperbolic space. Of course, any projective transformation of a convex domain as above is also a Hilbert geometry. As it is well known, the Hilbert metric is (almost) never Riemannian and often not \(C^2\). On the other hand, coming from the affine differential geometry, the Blaschke metric which can be defined on such domains is a smooth Riemannian metric. Naturally, there was considerable interest to compare the two metrics. It was proved recently by \textit{Y. Benoist} and \textit{D. Hulin} [Geom. Topol. 17, No. 1, 595--620 (2013; Zbl 1266.30030)] that the two metrics are uniformly comparable in the sense that there exists a positive constant \(C_n\) such that for any proper, convex open domain \(\Omega\) in \(\mathbb{R}\mathbf{P}^n\), the Hilbert \(h_{\Omega}^H\) and Blaschke metric \(h_{\Omega}^B\) satisfy \[ \frac{1}{C_n} h_{\Omega}^H \leq h_{\Omega}^B \leq C_n h_{\Omega}^H. \] In the present paper, the author considers the associated distances \(d^H\) and \(d^B\) for which he shows that, for any two points \(x, y\) of \(\Omega\), we have \[ d^B(x,y)<d^H(x,y)+1. \] Two main consequences are then derived. The first one confirms a conjecture which states that the volume entropy of the Hilbert metric for any proper, convex open domain \(\Omega\) is at most \(n-1\). This conjecture originated in work by \textit{B. Colbois} and \textit{P. Verovic} [Geom. Dedicata 105, 29--42 (2004; Zbl 1078.52002)] who proved the equality if the boundary of \(\Omega\) is sufficiently regular, and previous results in dimension 2 and 3 by several people. The second consequence is in regard to the length spectrum of Hitchin representation of a surface group into \(\mathrm{PSL}(3, \mathbb{R})\) which is shown to be uniformly larger than the length spectrum of the associated Fuchsian representation into \(\mathrm{PSL}(2, \mathbb{R})\). The Hitchin representation defines a unique open convex domain in \(\mathbb{R}\mathbf{P}^2\) and it is via this fact that the connection to convex domains is made.