Length functions of Hitchin representations

From MaRDI portal



Abstract: Given a Hitchin representation hocolonpi1(S)oPSLn(mathbbR), we construct n continuous functions ellihocolonmathcalCH(S)omathbbR defined on the space of H"older geodesic currents CH(S) such that, for a closed, oriented curve gamma in S, the i--th eigenvalue of the matrix ho(gamma)inPSLn(mathbbR) is of the form pmmathrmexp,elliho(gamma): such functions generalize to higher rank Thurston's length function of Fuchsian representations. Identities, diffe entiability properties of these lengths elliho, as well as applications to eigenvalue estimates, are also considered.


Let \(S\) be a closed connected oriented surface of genus \(g \geq 2\) and a representation \(\rho : \pi_1 (S) \rightarrow \mathrm{PSL}_n (\mathbb{R})\) inside a Hitchin component. Such representations are faithful, discrete and for every non trivial element \(\alpha \in \pi_1 (S)\), the element \(\rho (\gamma)\) is diagonalizable with distinct real eigenvalues \(| \lambda_i^\rho (\gamma)| \), as shown by results of \textit{F. Labourie} [Invent. Math. 165, No. 1, 51--114 (2006; Zbl 1103.32007)] .NEWLINENEWLINEIn the classical \(n=2\) case, such a representation \(r\) gives an hyperbolic metric on \(S\) and for every closed oriented curve \(\gamma\) on \(S\), the length of a curve \(\gamma\) is given by \(l^r (\gamma) = \frac 12 \mathrm{log} | \lambda_1^r (\gamma) |\) where \(|\lambda_1| >1 \). W. Thurston extended the length function to the space of measured laminations, and \textit{F. Bonahon} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 30, No. 2, 205--240 (1997; Zbl 0887.57018)] extended it further to the space of Hölder geodesic currents to develop a differential calculus.NEWLINENEWLINEIn the \(n \geq 3\) case, one can generalize this construction by defining for \(\rho\) a Hitchin representation, \(n\) different length functions \( l_i^\rho (\gamma) = \mathrm{log} | \lambda_i^\rho (\gamma)|\) for \(\gamma\) an unoriented closed curve on \(S\). The main result of this article is the construction of continuous extensions of \(l_i^\rho\) on the space of Hölder geodesic currents. Such functions are constructed by defining for each \(i \in [1 , n ]\) a 1-form \(\omega_i\) along the leaves of the geodesic foliation of the unit tangent bundle \(T^1 S\), using the eigenbundle decomposition of the \(\mathbb R^n\)-bundle over \(T^1 S\) given by the representation \(\rho\). Then for \(\alpha \in \mathcal{C}^{\mathrm{Hol}} (S)\) the value \(l_i^\rho (\alpha)\) is given by integrating \(\omega_i\) against \(\alpha\).NEWLINENEWLINEThe functions \(l_i^\rho\) are shown to satisfy several properties, namely that the sum of all \(n\) length functions is equal to \(0\) and satisfies a symmetry with respect to the orientation reversing involution of \(T^1 S\). Moreover the restriction of \(l_i^\rho\) to the space of measured laminations is tangentiable. As an application of the continuity of the \(l_i^\rho\), the author gives an asymptotic estimate for the eigenvalues.











This page was built for publication: Length functions of Hitchin representations

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q371268)