Discrete linear groups containing arithmetic groups (Q6906535)

This paper deals with rigidity questions concerning lattices of semisimple Lie groups. A \textit{lattice} of a Lie group is a discrete subgroup which has finite covolume. The most famous example is certainly \(\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbb{Z})\) which is a lattice of \(\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbb{R})\).\N\NThis paper deals with the following question. Let \(G\) be a connected simple real Lie group. Given an algebraic subgroup \(H\) of \(G\), is it true that any Zariski-dense discrete subgroup of \(G\) intersecting \(H\) in a lattice is itself a lattice of \(G\)? The answer, of course, depends on the subgroup \(H\) and the focus of this paper is when \(H\) is semisimple of rank at least \(2\).\N\NFor instance, consider \(G=\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbb{R})\), \(n\geq 3\) and \(H=\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathbb{R})\) embedded as a \(3\)-by-\(3\) block in \(G\). The first theorem of the paper states that if \(\Gamma\) is a Zariski-dense discrete subgroup of \(\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbb{R})\) whose intersection with \(H\) is a finite-index subgroup of \(\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathbb{Z})\), then \(\Gamma\) has a conjugate which is commensurable with \(\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbb{Z})\).\N\NThis is a consequence of the main result of this paper, which goes as follows. Let \(H\) be a semisimple algebraic subgroup of \(G\) of rank at least \(2\). The authors give conditions, mainly in terms of the action of \(H\) on the Furstenberg boundary of \(G\), under which any Zariski-dense discrete subgroup of \(G\) intersecting \(H\) in an irreducible lattice is contained in a lattice of \(G\). This conditions are fulfilled, if, for example, \(H\) has dimension larger than the maximal compact subgroup of \(G\).