Symmetric spaces uniformizing Shimura varieties in the Torelli locus (Q2082715)

An algebraic subvariety \(Z\) of the moduli space \(A_g\) of principally polarized abelian varieties of dimension \(g\) is \textit{totally geodesic} if it is the image via the natural projection map of some totally geodesic submanifold \(X\) of the Siegel space. In this case \(X\) is the symmetric space uniformizing \(Z\). A totally geodesic \(Z\subset \mathcal A_g\) is a \textit{Shimura} subvariety if it contains CM points. The \textit{Coleman-Oort conjecture} predicts for large genus the non-existence of positive-dimensional Shimura subvarieties of \(\mathcal A_g\) generically contained in the Torelli locus. In low genus there are counterexamples (so far \(g\leq 7\)) and they can be divided in three classes: \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] those obtained as families of Galois covers of \(\mathbb P^1\); \item[(2)] those obtained as families of Galois covers of elliptic curves; \item[(3)] those obtained via fibrations constructed on the examples in (2). \end{itemize} In the first part of the paper under review the author describes case by case the symmetric spaces uniformizing the counterexamples of classes (1) and (2). She uses a systematic approach using representation theory and the classification of Hermitian symmetric spaces of the non-compact type. Associated to each family in class (2) there are two maps: \(P:[C\to E]\mapsto Prym(C,E)\in \mathcal A_{g-1}\), and \(\varphi:[C\to E]\mapsto [JE]\in \mathcal A_1\). In [\textit{P. Frediani}, et al., Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa, Cl. Sci. (5) 22, No. 4, 1597--1619 (2021; Zbl 1494.14024)] it is showed that the connected components of the fibers of both maps have a totally geodesic image in \(\mathcal A_{g}\), and that countably many of these totally geodesic fibers are Shimura. In the second part of the paper under review the author discusses the relationship between the fibrations and the uniformizing symmetric space of the examples. More precisely, she proves the following. Let \(X\) be the uniformizing symmetric space associated to one of the families of class (2). Then: \begin{itemize} \item[(i)] \(X\) decomposes as \(B_1(\mathbb C) \times M\), where \(M\) is an hermitian symmetric space of codimension 1. \item[(ii)] The image in \(\mathcal A_g\) of \(M\) is an irreducible component of the fiber of \(\phi\). In particular, \(M\) uniformizes the irreducible components of the fibers of \(\phi\). \item[(iii)] The image in \(\mathcal A_g\) of \(B_1(\mathbb C) \) is an irreducible component of the fiber of the Prym map. \end{itemize}