Existence of semistable vector bundles with fixed determinants (Q2416867)

Let \(R\) be an excellent Henselian discrete valuation ring with algebraically closed residue field \(k\) of any characteristic. A semistable curve over \(k\) is called \textit{generalised tree-like} if, after ignoring the singularities of the irreducible components, the dual graph has no loops or cycles. Now let \(X_R\) be a fibred surface over \(\mathrm{Spec}(R)\) whose central fibre \(X_k\) is a generalised tree-like curve of genus at least \(2\). For \(r \ge 2\), let \(\mathcal{L}_R\) be a line bundle of degree \(d\) on \(X_R\) such that the degree of the restriction of \(\mathcal{L}_R\) to any rational component of \(X_k\) is a multiple of \(r\). The author proves the existence of a Gieseker semistable locally free sheaf of rank \(r\) and determinant \(\mathcal{L}_k = \mathcal{L}_R \otimes_R k\) over the generalised tree-like curve \(X_k\). Tools used include the relation studied by \textit{M. Teixidor i Bigas} [Math. Ann. 290, No. 2, 341--348 (1991; Zbl 0719.14015)] between Seshadri semistability and \(\lambda\)-semistability, where \(\lambda\) is a polarisation of \(X_k\); together with parabolic bundles as studied by \textit{U. Bhosle} [Ark. Mat. 30, No. 2, 187--215 (1992; Zbl 0773.14006)]. Combining this with results from deformation theory and Artin approximation [\textit{M. Artin}, Publ. Math., Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci. 36, 23--58 (1969; Zbl 0181.48802)], the author shows that there exists a rank \(r\) locally free sheaf on \(X_R\) of determinant \(\mathcal{L}_R\) which is is semistable on fibres. Moreover, in the introduction, the author mentions two applications of these results. The first is an alternative proof of a particular case of the \(C_1\) conjecture attributed to Lang, Manin and Kollár. The second is a proof of the nonemptiness of a moduli space of Gieseker-Hitchin pairs constructed by Balaji, Barik and Nagaraj [\textit{V. Balaji} et al., Int. Math. Res. Not. 2016, No. 21, 6581--6625 (2016; Zbl 1404.14039)]. The paper makes ingenious use of a variety of techniques, which both separately and together seem likely to have further applications.