\((G,P)\)-opers and global Slodowy slices (Q2217541)

The paper introduces the new notion of \((G,P)\)-oper on a compact Riemann surface \(X\), where \(G\) is a complex semisimple Lie group and \(P\subset G\) any parabolic subgroup. When \(P=B\) is the Borel, then this definition recovers Beillinson-Drinfeld's notion of \(G\)-oper, which generalizes the classical notion of oper (recovered if \(G=\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb C)\)): see [\textit{A. A. Beilinson} and \textit{V. G. Drinfeld}, Math. Phys. Stud. 19, 3--7 (1996; Zbl 0864.14007)]. Now, \(G\)-opers (or \((G,B)\)-opers) are objects in the de Rham moduli space \(\mathcal{M}^1(X)\) of holomorphic \(G\)-connections on \(X\). Their locus in \(\mathcal{M}^1(X)\) is parameterized by a map \(op\) from the Hitchin base (see [\textit{N. Hitchin}, Duke Math. J. 54, 91--114 (1987; Zbl 0627.14024)]) to \(\mathcal{M}^1(X)\). Moreover, \(op=\mathcal{T}\circ s_H\) where \(\mathcal{T}:\mathcal{M}^0(X)\to\mathcal{M}^1(X)\) is the non-abelian Hodge correspondence between the moduli space \(\mathcal{M}^0(X)\) of \(G\)-Higgs bundles on \(X\) and \(\mathcal{M}^1(X)\) (see [\textit{N. Hitchin}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 55, 59--126 (1987; Zbl 0634.53045); \textit{C. Simpson}, J. Am. Math. Soc. 1, No. 4, 867--918 (1988; Zbl 0669.58008)]), and \(s_H\) is the Hitchin section from the Hitchin base into \(\mathcal{M}^0(X)\); cf. [\textit{N. J. Hitchin}, Topology 31, No. 3, 449--473 (1992; Zbl 0769.32008)]. This picture generalizes to the setting of \(\lambda\)-connections, by taking the moduli space of holomorphic \(\lambda\)-connections \(\mathcal{M}^\lambda(X)\), \(\lambda\in\mathbb{C}\), and considering \((\lambda,G)\)-opers in \(\mathcal{M}^\lambda(X)\). In this paper, the authors generalize the parameterization of \(G\)-opers by the Hitchin base. Namely, when \(P\subset G\) is an even Jacobson-Morosov parabolic subgroup -- one obtained by an even nilpotent element of the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{g}\) -- they parameterize the space of \((G,P)\)-opers (and more generally of \((\lambda,G,P)\)-opers) by a so-called Slodowy functor, which is somehow a global version, along \(X\), of the Slodowy slice map on Lie algebras; cf. [\textit{P. Slodowy}, Simple singularities and simple algebraic groups. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer-Verlag (1980; Zbl 0441.14002)]. This is a parameterization at the level of categories of objects and not moduli spaces, since in general it is not known (although expected) that this functor preserves semistability of the corresponding objects. The Borel subgroup is an even Jacobson-Morosov of \(G\). In this case, the author's parameterization is easily seen to preserve semistability and recovers the above parameterization of \(G\)-opers by the Hitchin base. Many examples are provided. Among them is the special case of parabolic subgroups associated to so-called magical nilpotents, introduced in [\textit{S. Bradlow} et al., ``A general Cayley correspondence and higher Teichmüller spaces'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:2101.09377}], and deeply related to special connected components of \(\mathcal{M}^0(X)\) and \(\mathcal{M}^1(X)\) and to higher Teichmüller theory.