Connected components of the space of flags of \(\operatorname{SO}_0(p,q)\) transverse to a fixed pair and restrictions on Anosov subgroups (Q6848736)

Let \(A\in \mathsf{SL}(n,\mathbb{R})\) and consider its singular decomposition \(A=K_1DK_2\) where \(D\) is diagonal with entries \(d_{11}\geq d_{22}\geq\cdots \geq d_{nn}>0\), and \(K_1,K_2\in\mathrm{SO}(n)\). Let \(\delta_i(A) = d_{ii}\) for \(1\leq i\leq n\). Let \(\Gamma\) be a finitely presented group and let \(d_\Gamma\) be the \textit{word metric} on \(\Gamma\) defined by \(d_\Gamma(\alpha, \beta)\) is the minimal word length of a representative of \(\alpha\beta^{-1}\) with respect to our fixed presentation of \(\Gamma\). Let \(\epsilon\in\Gamma\) be the identity. Let \(\rho:\Gamma\to \mathsf{SL}(n,\mathbb{R})\) be a group homomorphism. If there exists real numbers \(C_1,C_2\) such that \[\frac{1}{C_1}d_\Gamma(\epsilon,\gamma)-C_2\leq \ln\left(\frac{\delta_1(\rho(\gamma))}{\delta_{2}(\rho(\gamma))}\right)\leq C_1d_\Gamma(\epsilon,\gamma)+C_2\] for all \(\gamma\in \Gamma\), we say \(\rho\) is \textit{projective Anosov}.\N\NLet \(\mathsf{G}\) be a semisimple Lie group with no compact factors and finite center. Parabolic subgroups of \(\mathsf{G}\) correspond to subsets \(\Theta\) of simple roots (with respect to the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{g}\) of \(\mathsf{G}\)). Let \(\mathsf{P}\) be a parabolic subgroup of \(\mathsf{G}\), and \(\mathsf{K}\) a maximal compact subgroup of \(\mathsf{G}\). Then \(\mathsf{G}/\mathsf{P}\) is a generalized flag variety and \(\mathsf{G}/\mathsf{K}\) is a symmetric space where the Killing form on \(\mathfrak{g}\) descends to a metric of non-positive sectional curvature.\N\NAssume \(\Gamma\) is Gromov hyperbolic (geodesic triangles with respect to \(d_\Gamma\) are ``thin''), and let \(\rho:\Gamma\to \mathsf{G}\) be a group homomorphism.\N\NLabourie and subsequently Guichard-Wienhard defined what it means for \(\rho\) to be \textit{\(\mathsf{P}\)-Anosov} in [\textit{F. Labourie}, Invent. Math. 165, No. 1, 51--114 (2006; Zbl 1103.32007); \textit{O. Guichard} and \textit{A. Wienhard}, Invent. Math. 190, No. 2, 357--438 (2012; Zbl 1270.20049)]. It is known that \(\rho\) is \(\mathsf{P}\)-Anosov if and only if there exists an irreducible representation \(\sigma:\mathsf{G}\to \mathsf{SL}(m,\mathrm{R})\) such that \(\sigma\circ \rho\) is projective Anosov.\N\NIf \(\rho\) is \(\mathsf{P}\)-Anosov, then \(\rho\) has finite kernel, \(\rho(\Gamma)\) is discrete in \(\mathsf{G}\), the orbit map \(\tau_\rho:\Gamma\to \mathsf{G}/\mathsf{K}\) given by \(\gamma\mapsto \rho(\gamma)g_0\mathsf{K}\) (for fixed \(g_0\in \mathsf{G}\)) is a quasi-isometric embedding, and there exists open neighborhoods of \(\rho\) in \(\mathrm{Hom}(\Gamma,\mathsf{G})\) that contain only \(\mathsf{P}\)-Anosov homomorphisms.\N\NThe main theorems in this paper lead to the following interesting results about Anosov homomorphisms (see Theorems D, E, F, G):\N\N\begin{itemize}\N\item[1.] If \(q\geq 2\) with \(q=1\ \mathrm{mod}\ 4\) or \(q=2\ \mathrm{mod}\ 4\), and \(\rho:\Gamma\to \mathrm{SO}_0(q+1,q)\) is \(P_\Theta\)-Anosov with \(\Theta\) containing the last root, then \(\rho(\Gamma)\) is virtually isomorphic to a free group or a surface group.\N\item[2.] If \(q\geq 2\) with \(q=2\ \mathrm{mod}\ 4\), and \(\rho:\Gamma\to \mathsf{SO}_0(q,q)\) is \(P_\Theta\)-Anosov with \(\Theta\) containing the last two roots, then \(\rho(\Gamma)\) is virtually isomorphic to a free group or a surface group.\N\item[3.] If \(p>q\geq 3\), then there exists \(\mathsf{P}\)-Anosov \(\rho:\Gamma\to \mathsf{SO}_0(p,q)\) where \(\rho(\Gamma)\) is isomorphic to the free product of a surface group with \(\mathbb{Z}\).\N\item[4.] If \(q\geq 2\) and \(p\geq 3q+1\), then there exists \(\mathsf{P}\)-Anosov \(\rho:\Gamma\to \mathsf{SO}_0(p,q)\) where \(\rho(\Gamma)\) is isomorphic to the free product of a surface group with \(\mathbb{Z}\).\N\end{itemize}\N\NThese results are established, in part, by counting and analyzing the connected components in the space of flags transverse to a fixed pair of transverse flags in \(\mathsf{SO}_0(p,q)\); see Theorems A, B, C.