Zariski-dense Hitchin representations in uniform lattices

Abstract

We construct Zariski-dense surface subgroups in infinitely many commensurability classes of uniform lattices of the split real Lie groups $\operatorname{SL}(n,\mathbb{R})$, $\operatorname{Sp}(2n,\mathbb{R})$, $\operatorname{SO}(k+1,k)$, and $\operatorname{G}_2$. These subgroups are images of Hitchin representations. In particular, we show that every uniform lattice of $\operatorname{Sp}(2n,\mathbb{R})$, of $\operatorname{SO}(k+1,k)$ with $k\equiv1,2[4]$ and of $\operatorname{G}_2$ contains infinitely many mapping class group orbits of Zariski-dense Hitchin representations of fixed genus. Together with Long-Thistlethwaite and with a previous paper of the author, it implies that all lattices of $\operatorname{Sp}(4,\mathbb{R})$ contain a Zariski-dense surface subgroup.