Naturality properties and comparison results for topological and infinitesimal embedded jump loci (Q2421250)

Let \(X\) be a path-connected CW-complex \(X\) with finitely many \(1\)-cells, let \(\pi=\pi_1(X)\) be the fundamental group of \(X\), and let \(\iota\colon G \to \mathrm{GL}(V)\) be a representation. The parameter space for rank \(n\) locally constant sheaves on \(X\) may be identified with the \(\mathrm{GL}_n\)-representation variety of \(\pi\). In this important and well-written paper, the authors use augmented commutative differential graded algebra models to investigate \(G\)-representation varieties of fundamental groups \(\pi\) and their embedded cohomology jump loci, around the trivial representation. Remarkable applications are explored for compact Kähler manifold, the complement of a central complex hyperplane arrangement, and the total space of a principal bundle with formal base space. For each \(i,r\geq 0\), the embedded jump locus of \(X\) with respect to \(\iota\) is the pair \(\left (\mathrm{Hom}(\pi,G),\mathcal{V}^i_r(X,\iota) \right), \) where \(\mathcal{V}^i_r(X,\iota)\) are the characteristic varieties \[ \mathcal{V}^i_r(X,\iota) =\{ \rho \in \mathrm{Hom}(\pi,G) \mid \dim_{\mathbb{C}} H^i(X, V_{\iota \circ \rho} )\ge r\}. \] Let \(A\) be a differential graded algebra, and let \(\theta\colon \mathfrak{g}\to \mathfrak{g}l(V)\) be a Lie algebra representation. The infinitesimal analog of the representation variety is the set \(\mathcal{F}(A,\mathfrak{g})\subseteq A^1\otimes \mathfrak{g}\) of \(\mathfrak{g}\)-valued flat connections on \(A\). For each \(i,r\ge 0\), the infinitesimal embedded jump locus of \(A\) with respect to \(\theta\) is the pair \( \left( \mathcal{F}(A,\mathfrak{g}) , \mathcal{R}^i_r(A, \theta) \right), \) where \(\mathcal{R}^i_r(A,\theta)\) are the resonance varieties \[\mathcal{R}^i_r(A, \theta)= \{\omega \in \mathcal{F}(A,\mathfrak{g}) \mid \dim_{\mathbb{C}} H^i(A \otimes V, d_{\omega}) \ge r\}. \] The main results are obtained when the space \(X\) admits a finite family of maps, uniformly modeled by augmented commutative differential graded algebra morphisms, and certain finiteness and connectivity assumptions are satisfied. Under the above assumptions, the germs at \(1\) of \(\mathrm{Hom} (\pi,G)\) and of the embedded jump loci can be described in terms of their infinitesimal counterparts, naturally with respect to the given families. Important applications of the main approach lead to fairly explicit answers when \(X\) is either a compact Kähler manifold, or the complement of a central complex hyperplane arrangement, provided the Lie algebra of the \(\mathbb{C}\)-linear algebraic group \(G\) is a non-abelian subalgebra \(\mathfrak{g}\) of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(\mathbb{C})\). Let \(\iota\colon G\to \mathrm{GL}(V)\) be a rational representation. For \(i=r=1\) and for \(i=0\), \(r\ge 1\), the natural inclusion, \[ \mathrm{Hom}(\pi,G) \supseteq \bigcup_{f\in E(X)} f_{\sharp}^{!} \mathrm{Hom} (\pi_f,G)\, , \] and the induced inclusions \[ \mathcal{V}^i_r(X,\iota) \supseteq \bigcup_{f\in E(X)} f^{!} \mathcal{V}^i_r (X_f,\iota) \] are equalities near the origin 1. The result is also valid if \(X\) is a closed, connected, differentiable manifold supporting a free action by a compact, connected real Lie group \(K\), and the orbit space \(X/K\) is formal in the sense of Sullivan.