Invariant distributions and cohomology for geodesic flows and higher cohomology of higher-rank Anosov actions (Q2436742)

Let \(\{ \varphi_t\}\) be an Anosov \(\mathbb R^1\)-action, or flow, on a compact Riemannian manifold \(M\), and let \(X\) be the smooth vector field on \(M\) with flow transformations \(\{\varphi_t\}\). Let a \(C^\infty\) function \(f:M\rightarrow\mathbb R\) be given. The Livsic theorem states that there is a continuous function \(g:M\rightarrow\mathbb R\) such that \(Xg=f\Leftrightarrow\int_{\gamma} f=0\) for any smooth closed curve \(\gamma\). In fact, a \(C^\infty\) solution function \(g\) exists. The extension of the Livsic theorem to Anosov \(\mathbb R^d\)-actions, \(d\geq 2\), has occupied many people, and is guided by the following conjecture of \textit{A. Katok} and \textit{S. Katok} [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. 15, No. 3, 569--592 (1995; Zbl 0851.57039)]: Let \(\alpha\) be a standard partially hyperbolic action of \(\mathbb R^d\) on a finite-volume Riemannian manifold \(M\). Then for \(1\leq n\leq d-1\) the smooth \(n\)-cohomology of \(\alpha\) is trivial. Moreover, the only obstructions to solving the degree-\(d\) coboundary equation come from integration over closed orbits. In the present article, the author gives a partial affirmative answer to the conjecture for certain finite volume, irreducible quotients of products of real hyperbolic spaces. More precisely, let \(G=G_1\times\dots\times G_d\), where \(G_i=\mathrm{SO}(N_i,1)_0,N_i\geq 2\) for \(1\leq i\leq d\). Let \(\Gamma\) be an irreducible lattice in \(G\). Let \(X_i\) be a semisimple element of \(\mathfrak G_i\), the Lie algebra of \(\mathfrak G_i\), and let \(M_i\) be the centralizer of \(X_i\) in the maximal compact subgroup \(K_i=\mathrm{SO}(N_i)\subset G_i\). Let \(M=M_i\times\dots\times M_d\). Then \(A= \mathbb R^d\) acts on \(M\backslash G/\Gamma\) by flowing along \(X_1,\dots,X_d\). The \(\mathbb R^d\)-flow of A is Anosov and is an example of a Weyl chamber flow. Let \(\mathbb H^N\) denote the real hyperbolic space of dimension \(N\) and constant sectional curvature \(-1\). Let \(M\) be a finite-volume, irreducible quotient of \(H^{N_1}\times\dots\times H^{N_d}\), where \(N_i\geq 2\) for all \(i\). Let \(SM\) denote the unit tangent bundle of \(M\). The main result of the article has two parts: 1) If \(f\in C^\infty(L^2(SM))\) lies in the kernel of every \(A\)-invariant distribution, then there exist smooth functions \(g_1,\dots,g_d\) in \(C^\infty(L^2(SM))\) such that \(X_1(g_1)+\dots +X_d(g_d)=f\). 2) The smooth cohomology of the \(A\)-action on \(SM\) is trivial for \(1\leq n\leq d-1\). The condition 1) is stronger than the obstruction to solving the degree-\(d\) coboundary condition of the Katok-Katok conjecture. The author previously proved the result above in the special case \(N_i=2\) for all \(i\). In the present article, the author considers the representation theory of \(\mathrm{SO}(N,1)\) on the Hilbert space \(\mathfrak H=L^2(\mathrm{SO}(N,1)/\Gamma)\), where \(\Gamma\) is a lattice in \(\mathrm{SO}(N,1)\). A central theme is to solve the equation \(X(g)=f\), where \(X\in\mathfrak G\), the Lie algebra of \(\mathrm{SO}(N,1)\), and \(f\in C^\infty(\mathfrak H)\) are given.