Actions of lattices in $S$-arithmetic groups on manifolds

Abstract

We prove that an action by $C^1$ diffeomorphisms of a lattice in a simple $p$-adic group on a compact manifold is finite, provided the dimension is less than the rank. We extend this statement to lattices in totally disconnected $S$-arithmetic groups, where the critical dimension is the maximal rank of the simple factors. This uses the machinery developed by Brown, Fisher, and Hurtado.