Topology of character varieties of abelian groups (Q2250122)

Let \(G\) be a complex reductive algebraic group. Let \(K\) be a maximal compact subgroup of \(G,\) and let \(\Gamma\) be a finitely generated abelian group of rank \(r\). Then \(G\) acts on \(\text{Hom}\left( \Gamma,G\right) ,\) and one can construct the affine GIT quotient \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\right) =\text{Hom}\left( \Gamma,G\right) /\!/G,\) which is called the \(G\)-character variety of \(\Gamma.\) Additionally, \(G\) acts on \(\text{Hom}\left( \Gamma,K\right) ,\) giving rise to the GIT quotient \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( K\right) ,\) similarly defined. In the work under review, it is shown that there is a strong deformation retract from \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\right) \) to \(\mathfrak{X} _{\Gamma}\left( K\right) .\) This result remains true upon restriction to the real locus \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\left( \mathbb{R}\right) \right) .\) Additionally, it is shown that \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\right) \) is irreducible if and only if \(\Gamma\) is a free abelian group, and either (1) \(r=1\); (2) \(r=2\) and \(G\) is simply connected; or (3) \(r\geq3\) and \(G\) is a product of special linear and compact symplectic groups.