Harmonic maps and representations of non-uniform lattices of \(PU(m,1)\) (Q931892)

The authors make use of harmonic maps techniques to study representations of lattices of \(PU(m,1)\) into \(PU(n,1)\) in order to provide rigidity results. This goes as follows: first one shows the existence of a harmonic map between the corresponding symmetric spaces. Then one must prove, under certain constraints, that the harmonic map is pluriharmonic, holomorphic, totally geodesic, isometric, depending on the situation. The existence is proved of a harmonic map from \(\mathbb H^m_C\) to \(\mathbb H^n_C\) making use of Corlette's results. Finally the authors study a new invariant associated to representations of fundamental groups of finite topological type and negative Euler characteristic into \(PU(n,1)\).