Factorization theorems for the representations of the fundamental groups of quasiprojective varieties and some applications

Abstract

In this paper, using Gromov-Jost-Korevaar-Schoen technique of harmonic maps to nonpositively curved targets, we study the representations of the fundamental groups of quasiprojective varieties. As an application of the above considerations we give a proof of a weak version of the Shafarevich Conjecture.