Factorization of semisimple discrete representations of Kähler groups (Q2366464)

The author proves the following main theorem. Let \(X\) be a compact Kähler manifold with fundamental group \(\pi_ 1 (X) = \Gamma\). Let \(\Phi : \Gamma \to \text{SL} (n,\mathbb{R})\) be a discrete semisimple representation such that the Zariski closure of \(\Phi (\Gamma)\) is of the noncompact type and such that \(\Phi (\Gamma)\) intersects the center of \(\text{SL} (n, \mathbb{R})\) trivially. Then there exists a modification \(\widehat {X} \to X\) of \(X\), a nonsingular projective-algebraic variety \(Z\) of general type, a surjective holomorphic map \(\sigma : \widehat {X} \to Z\) and a representation \(\Xi : \pi_ 1 (Z) \to \text{SL} (n,\mathbb{R})\) such that \(\Phi = \Xi \circ \sigma_ *\) on \(\Gamma\), where \(\sigma_ * : \pi_ 1(\widehat {X}) \to \pi_ 1 (Z)\) is induced by \(\sigma\) and \(\pi_ 1 (\widehat {X})\) is canonically identified with \(\pi_ 1 (X) = \Gamma\). For the proof of the main theorem he uses the study of foliations associated to harmonic maps. Certain intermediate results are of independent interest.