Using thermodynamic formalism we introduce a notion of intersection for convex Anosov representations. We produce an Out-invariant Riemannian metric on the smooth points of the deformation space of convex, irreducible representations of a word hyperbolic group G into SL(m,R) whose Zariski closure contains a generic element. In particular, we produce a mapping class group invariant Riemannian metric on Hitchin components which restricts to the Weil-Petersson metric on the Fuchsian locus.
This is joint work with R. Canary, F. Labourie and A. Sambarino.