Boundary actions of lattices and $C^0$ local semi-rigidity

Abstract

We consider actions of cocompact lattices in semisimple Lie groups of the noncompact type on their boundaries $G/Q$, $Q$ a parabolic group, the so-called standard actions. We show that perturbations of the standard action in the homeomorphism group continuously factor onto the original standard action by a semi-conjugacy close to the identity. This generalizes works by Bowden, Mann, Manning and Weisman in the setting of negative curvature or Gromov hyperbolic groups. Finally, we also construct perturbations of the action of lattices on the geodesic boundary which are not $C^0$ semi-conjugate to the original action.