The dynamics of \(\Aut(F_n)\) on redundant representations (Q374098)

Summary: We study some dynamical properties of the canonical \(\Aut(F_n)\)-action on the space \(\mathcal{R}_n(G)\) of redundant representations of the free group \(F_n\) in \(G\), where \(G\) is the group of rational points of a simple algebraic group over a local field. We show that this action is always minimal and ergodic, confirming a conjecture of A. Lubotzky. On the other hand for the classical cases where \(G=\text{SL}_2(\mathbb{R})\) or \(\text{SL}_2(\mathbb{C})\) we show that the action is not weak mixing, in the sense that the diagonal action on \(\mathcal{R}_n(G)^2\) is not ergodic.