Constructing thin subgroups of \(\text{SL}(n + 1, \mathbb{R})\) via bending (Q784259)

This paper constructs infinitely many examples of thin subgroups of lattices in special linear groups that are isomorphic to the fundamental groups of finite-volume hyperbolic manifolds. This is interesting, as many known constructions of thin subgroups result in thin groups that are either virtually free or isomorphic to fundamental groups of surfaces. The interest in thin subgroups is motivated in part due to their connection with expander graphs and affine sieving techniques that arises from work of \textit{J. Bourgain} et al. [Invent. Math. 179, No. 3, 559--644 (2010; Zbl 1239.11103)] and \textit{J. Bourgain} [Math. Sci. Res. Inst. Publ. 61, 1--22 (2014; Zbl 1370.11082)]. Let \(G\) be a semi-simple Lie group and \(\Gamma \le G\) be a lattice. Then a subgroup \(\Delta \le \Gamma\) is thin if it has infinite index in \(\Gamma\) and is Zariski dense in \(G\). If one omits the hypothesis on infinite index, then \(\Delta\) will itself be a lattice and hence Zariski dense by the Borel density theorem. As the title suggests, the strategy in the construction is to bend a hyperbolic manifold along an embedded, totally geodesic submanifold such that one obtains properly convex real projective manifolds diffeomorphic to the initial manifold. The proof that the subgroups of the special linear groups thus obtained are Zariski dense then hinges on work by \textit{Y. Benoist} [in: Algebraic groups and arithmetic. Proceedings of the international conference, Mumbai, India, December 17--22, 2001. New Delhi: Narosa Publishing House/Published for the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. 339--374 (2004; Zbl 1084.37026); Invent. Math. 141, No. 1, 149--193 (2000; Zbl 0957.22008)]. The authors show that this strategy can be applied if the fundamental group of the hyperbolic manifold is an arithmetic lattice in \(SO(n,1)\) that is of orthogonal type. For instance, every non-cocompact arithmetic lattice in \(SO(n,1)\) is of orthogonal type. In conclusion, this paper gives a very attractive application of techniques from convex projective geometry and arithmetic groups to the study of lattices in special linear groups.