Quantum traces for representations of surface groups in SL\(_{2}(\mathbb C)\) (Q640341)

The paper under review establishes a relation between two different quantizations of the character variety. Let \(S\) be an oriented surface of finite topological type. The character variety consists of all group homomorphisms from the fundamental group of \(S\) to the Lie group \(SL_2(\mathbb{C})\), considered up to conjugation by elements of \(SL_2(\mathbb{C})\). The first quantizations were introduced by \textit{D. Bullock, C. Frohman} and \textit{J. Kania-Bartoszyńska} [J. Knot Theory Ramifications 8, No.~3, 265--277 (1999; Zbl 0932.57015)], \textit{J. H. Przytycki} and \textit{A. S. Sikora} [Topology 39, No.~1, 115--148 (2000; Zbl 0958.57011)] and \textit{V. Turaev} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 24, No.~6, 635--704 (1991; Zbl 0758.57011)] by using the Kauffman skein algebra. This algebra is obtained by considering the vector space freely generated by all isotopy classes of framed links in \(S\times [0,1]\), and then taking the quotient of this space under the Kauffman skein relation. The commutative algebra of regular functions on the character variety is identified with the Kauffman skein algebra when the parameter \(A\) equals -1. The second quantization is the quantum Teichmüller space introduced by \textit{V. Fock} and \textit{L. Chekhov} [Theor. Math. Phys. 120, No.~3, 1245--1259 (1999; Zbl 0986.32007)] and \textit{R. Kashaev} [Lett. Math. Phys. 43, No.~2, 105--115 (1998; Zbl 0897.57014)] by using Thurston's shear coordinates. The construction of the quantum Teichmüller space relies on the existence of an ideal triangulation. But there is a natural homomorphism between the quantum Teichmüller spaces associated to two different ideal triangulations. This was rigorously established by \textit{F. Bonahon} and \textit{X. Liu} [Geom. Topol. 11, 889--937 (2007; Zbl 1134.57008), J. Knot Theory Ramifications 18, No.~5, 705--726 (2009; Zbl 1204.57033)]. The authors construct a homomorphism from the Kauffman skein algebra to the quantum Teichmüller space with a fixed ideal triangulation. When restricted to the classical case, this homomorphism corresponds to the equivalence between these two algebras through trace functions. By using works of \textit{C. Hiatt} [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 10, No.~3, 1245--1283 (2010; Zbl 1207.81034)], this homomorphism is shown to be independent of the choice of the ideal triangulation.