Virtual classes of representation varieties of upper triangular matrices via topological quantum field theories (Q2105555)

Let \(G\) be a complex affine algebraic group and \(\Gamma\) a finitely generated discrete group. Then the set of group homomorphisms \(\mathrm{Hom}(\Gamma, G)\) has the structure of a complex affine variety. Let \(B_n\subset \mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{C})\) be the Borel group of upper-triangular matrices, and \(\Sigma_g\) a closed orientable surface of genus \(g\). The first main theorem of this interesting paper explicitly computes the Grothendieck class of \(\mathrm{Hom}(\pi_1(\Sigma_g), B_n)\) for \(n=2,3,4\) showing the class to be a polynomial over \(\mathbb{Z}\) in the the class \([\mathbb{A}^1_{\mathbb{C}}]\). The authors then show that the categorical quotient of \(\mathrm{Hom}(\pi_1(\Sigma_g), B_n)\) by the conjugation action of \(B_n\) exists and that quotient is isomorphic to \((\mathbb{A}^1_{\mathbb{C}}-\{0\})^{2ng}\). In general, the categorical quotient of \(\mathrm{Hom}(\Gamma, G)\) by \(G\)-conjugation is called the \(G\)-character variety of \(\Gamma\). There is a related moduli space, called the ``variety of characters'' in [\textit{S. Lawton} and \textit{A. S. Sikora}, Algebr. Represent. Theory 20, No. 5, 1133--1141 (2017; Zbl 1400.14123)] when \(G\) admits a faithful representation. Often, but not always, these two moduli spaces are isomorphic. The second main theorem of the paper under review shows that, with respect to the canonical representation \(B_n\subset \mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{C})\), the \(B_n\)-character variety of \(\pi_1(\Sigma_g)\) is \textit{not} isomorphic to the corresponding variety of characters.