Studying deformations of Fuchsian representations with Higgs bundles (Q2633023)

This is an interesting and well-written survey explicitly avoiding the overlapping with another survey paper in the same volume ([\textit{Q. Li}, ``An introduction to Higgs bundles via harmonic map'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1809.05747}]. From the abstract: ``This is a survey article whose main goal is to explain how many components of the character variety of a closed surface are either deformation spaces of representations into the maximal compact subgroup or deformation spaces of certain Fuchsian representations. This latter family is of particular interest and is related to the field of higher Teichmüller theory. Our main tool is the theory of Higgs bundles. We try to develop the general theory of Higgs bundles for real groups and indicate where subtleties arise. However, the main emphasis is placed on concrete examples which are our motivating objects. In particular, we do not prove any of the foundational theorems, rather we state them and show how they can be used to prove interesting statements about components of the character variety. We have also not spent any time developing the tools (harmonic maps) which de ne the bridge between Higgs bundles and the character variety.''