Topological restrictions on Anosov representations

Abstract

We characterize groups admitting Anosov representations into $\mathsf{SL}(3,\mathbb R)$, projective Anosov representations into $\mathsf{SL}(4,\mathbb R)$, and Borel Anosov representations into $\mathsf{SL}(4,\mathbb R)$. More generally, we obtain bounds on the cohomological dimension of groups admitting $P_k$-Anosov representations into $\mathsf{SL}(d,\mathbb R)$ and offer several characterizations of Benoist representations.