On the images of Galois representations attached to low weight Siegel modular forms

Abstract

Let $\pi$ be a cuspidal automorphic representation of $\mathrm{GSp}_4(\mathbf{A_Q})$, whose archimedean component is a holomorphic discrete series or limit of discrete series representation. If $\pi$ is not CAP or endoscopic, then we show that its associated $\ell$-adic Galois representations are irreducible and crystalline for $100\%$ of primes $\ell$. If, moreover, $\pi$ is neither an automorphic induction nor a symmetric cube lift, then we show that, for $100\%$ of primes $\ell$, the image of its mod $\ell$ Galois representation contains $\mathrm{Sp}_4(\mathbf{F}_{\ell})$.