Multiplicative preprojective algebras, middle convolution and the Deligne-Simpson problem (Q2369432)

Consider the Deligne-Simpson problem (DSP): Give necessary and sufficient conditions on the choice of the conjugacy classes \(C_j\subset GL(n,{\mathbb C})\) so that there exist irreducible \(k\)-tuples of matrices \(A_j\in C_j\) such that \(A_1\ldots A_k=1\). The first author has proposed in earlier works an approach towards solving the DSP which uses quivers and preprojective algebras [introduced by the first author and \textit{M. P. Holland}, Duke Math. J. 92, No. 3, 605--635 (1998; Zbl 0974.16007)]. A survey on the DSP was given by \textit{V. P. Kostov} [J. Algebra 281, 83--108 (2004; Zbl 1066.15016)]. In the present paper the authors introduce a family of algebras which are multiplicative analogs of preprojective algebras. They show that these algebras are a natural setting for the middle convolution functor introduced by \textit{N. M. Katz} [``Rigid local systems'' (1996; Zbl 0864.14013)] and later given an algebraic setting in works of \textit{M. Dettweiler} and \textit{S. Reiter} [J. Symb. Comput. 30, No. 6, 761--798 (2000; Zbl 1049.12005)] and of \textit{H. Völklein} [Geom. Dedicata 84, No. 1--3, 135--150 (2001; Zbl 0990.20021)]. The authors prove a homological formula relating the dimensions of the Hom and Ext spaces, they study varieties of representations of multiplicative preprojective algebras, and use the results to study simple representations.