P=W conjectures for character varieties with symplectic resolution (Q2144260)

Let \(X\) be a compact Riemann surface of genus \(g\), and \(G = \mathrm{GL}_n\) or \(\mathrm{SL}_n\). The Betti moduli space \(M_{\mathrm{B}}\) parametrizes (isomorphism classes of) semistable representations of the fundamental group of \(X\) with values in \(G\). The Dolbeault moduli space \(M_{\mathrm{Dol}}\) parametrizes semistable principal \(G\)-Higgs bundles with vanishing Chern classes. The non-abelian Hodge correspondence gives a real analytic, but not algebraic, isomorphism \(\Psi\) between the two. The \(P = W\) conjecture(s) predict how certain filtrations on the cohomology of \(M_{\mathrm{B}}\) and \(M_{\mathrm{Dol}}\) are related via the map \(\Psi\). The main result of the paper is as follows. Suppose that \(g = 1\) or \(g = n = 2\). Then the following conjectures hold: \begin{itemize} \item the original \(P = W\) conjecture, \item the \(\mathit{PI} = \mathit{WI}\) conjecture, a version for intersection cohomology, \item the \(P = W\) conjecture for symplectic resolutions. \end{itemize} A symplectic resolution is such that a holomorphic symplectic form on the smooth locus extends to a holomorphic symplectic form on the resolution. A symplectic resolution exists for \(M_{\mathrm{Dol}}\) if and only if \(g = 1\) or \(g = n = 2\), but the authors expect that the \(\mathit{PI} = \mathit{WI}\) conjecture holds even in the absence of a symplectic resolution.