On the universal deformations for \(\mathrm{SL}_2\)-representations of knot groups (Q2396265)

Let \(\Pi\) be a finitely generated group. Fix a perfect field \(k\) and a complete discrete valuation ring \(\mathcal{O}\) such that its residue field \(\mathcal{O}/\mathfrak{m}_\mathcal{O}\) is isomorphic to \(k\). For example, one can take \(\mathcal{O}=k\left[\left[t\right]\right]\), the ring of formal power series. A deformation of a representation \(\overline{\rho}:\Pi\to SL_2(k)\) is a representation \(\rho:\Pi\to SL_2(R)\) for a complete local \(\mathcal{O}\)-algebra \(R\) with residue field \(k\) such that reduction via \(R\to k\) reduces \(\overline{\rho}\) to \(\rho\). The authors prove that for absolutely irreducible \(SL_2\)-representations \(\overline{\rho}\) (i.e., representations irreducible in \(SL_2(\overline{k})\) for \(\overline{k}\) the algebraic closure of \(k\)) there exists a (unique) universal deformation. The corresponding \(\mathcal{O}\)-algebra \(R\) is called the universal deformation ring of \(\overline{\rho}\) and is denoted by \(R_{\overline{\rho}}\). The character of an \(SL_2\)-representation satisfies certain relations which are used to define a notion of pseudo-\(SL_2\)-representations. This notion was introduced by \textit{A. Wiles} [Invent. Math. 94, No. 3, 529--573 (1988; Zbl 0664.10013)] for \(p\)-adic Galois representations. Motivated by some expected analogies between Galois representations and knot group representations, the authors set up the deformation theory for pseudo-\(SL_2\)-representations and prove that taking the trace provides a bijection between deformations of \(SL_2\)-representations and deformations of pseudo-\(SL_2\)-representations. In particular, this is true for the universal pseudo-\(SL_2\)-representation. The authors prove that the universal deformation ring of the pseudo-\(SL_2\)-representation can be considered as an infinitesimal deformation of the universal character algebra. Representations of 2-bridge knot groups have been described in [\textit{R. Riley}, Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 35, 191--208 (1984; Zbl 0549.57005)]. The authors use their results to give an explicit description of the universal deformation ring in this case. Finally, for a hyperbolic knot \(K\) with knot group \(\Pi_K\), it is known from Thurston's proof of the hyperbolic Dehn surgery theorem that its \(SL_2({\mathbb C})\)-character variety has an irreducible \(1\)-dimensional component containing the character of the holonomy representation \(\overline{\rho}:\Pi_K\to SL_2({\mathbb C})\). It is parametrized by \(z=tr(\rho(\mu))-2\) for a fixed meridian \(\mu\). The authors prove that the universal deformation ring for \(\overline{\rho}\) is \(R_{\overline{\rho}}=\mathcal{O}\left[\left[z\right]\right]\).