Connected components of Prym eigenform loci in genus three (Q1751047)

Let \(\kappa\) be a partition of \(2g-2\). The stratum \(\mathcal H(\kappa)\) parameterizes abelian differentials \(\omega\) on genus \(g\) Riemann surfaces \(X\) that have zeros of type \(\kappa\). There is a SL\((2,\mathbb R)\)-action on \(\mathcal H(\kappa)\), called Teichmüller dynamics, which varies the real and imaginary parts of \(\omega\) and preserves its zero type. Alternatively, \(\omega\) induces a flat metric with conical singularities at its zeros such that the underlying Riemann surface \(X\) can be realized as a plane polygon with edges pairwise identified via translation. Hence \((X, \omega)\) is also called a translation surface and the SL\((2,\mathbb R)\)-action thus alters its shape. A central question in the study of Teichmüller dynamics is to understand SL\((2,\mathbb R)\)-orbit closures under period coordinates of the strata. The work of \textit{C. T. McMullen} [Duke Math. J. 133, No. 3, 569--590 (2006; Zbl 1099.14018)] reveals a strong relation between SL\((2,\mathbb R)\)-orbit closures and the endormorphisms rings of the Jacobian of the underlying Riemann surfaces. In particular, the Prym eigenform locus \(\Omega E_D(\kappa)\) is closed and SL\((2,\mathbb R)\)-invariant in \(\mathcal H(\kappa)\), which parameterizes abelian differentials \((X, \omega)\) of zero type \(\kappa\) such that the Jacobian of \(X\) admits real multiplication by a quadratic order with discriminant \(D\) and that \(\omega\) is an eigenform for this real multiplication. These Prym eigenform loci are not necessarily irreducible, thus having interesting geometric and topological properties. \textit{C. T. McMullen} [Math. Ann. 333, No. 1, 87--130 (2005; Zbl 1086.14024); Ann. Math. (2) 165, No. 2, 397--456 (2007; Zbl 1131.14027)] classified connected components of \(\Omega E_D(1,1)\) and \(\Omega E_D(2)\) in genus \(2\) for each \(D\). In this paper the authors study the classification of connected components of Prym eigenform loci in the strata \(\mathcal H(2,2)^{\mathrm{odd}}\) and \(\mathcal H(2,1,1)\) in genus \(3\). Their main result shows that for each discriminant \(D\), the cooresponding Prym eigenform locus has one component if \(D\equiv 0, 4 \mod 8\), two components if \(D\equiv 1 \mod 8\), and is empty if \(D \equiv 5 \mod 8\). In order to prove this result, the authors use flat geometric surgeries of breaking up and collapsing zeros as well as a careful analysis of certain admissible saddle connections.