On partial abelianization of framed local systems (Q6998645)

In their seminal article [Ann. Henri Poincaré 14, No. 7, 1643--1731 (2013; Zbl 1288.81132)] \textit{D. Gaiotto} et al. introduced spectral networks and demonstrated their effectiveness in providing abelianization and non-abelianization maps. In a simple version, these maps give an equivalence between flat connections on a rank \(n\) vector bundle over a Riemann surface \(S\) and flat connections on a line bundle over the spectral curve \(\Sigma\), an \(n\)-sheeted ramified covering of \(S\). The monodromies of the abelianized local system are cluster \(\mathcal{X}\)-coordinates. More generally, e.g. when \(G\) is a split Lie group, this procedure can be used for the study of moduli spaces of framed \(G\)-local systems over punctured surfaces by relating them to simpler objects, and various related directions and applications in geometry and mathematical physics have seen the light of day since the original introduction of these abelianization maps.\N\NThe authors of the present article use spectral networks to provide a set of ideas extending the process of abelianization for framed \(G\)-local systems, when \(G\) is a group of the form \(\text{GL}_2(A)\), where \(A\) is a unital associative not necessarily commutative \(\mathbb{R}\)-algebra. In particular, they give abelianization maps for moduli spaces of \(\mathcal{T}\)-transverse decorated and framed \(G\)-local systems over punctured surfaces \(S\), for a fixed ideal triangulation \(\mathcal{T}\) of \(S\). The (non-)abelianization maps are \textit{partial} in the sense that the local system in the covering is still non abelian, in contrast to the original (non-)abelianization process of Gaiotto, Moore and Neitzke. These maps agree with the ones constructed by \textit{A. Goncharov} and \textit{M. Kontsevich} [``Spectral description of non-commutative local systems on surfaces and non-commutative cluster varieties'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:2108.04168}], however the context here is slightly more general and the authors are using spectral networks in their construction instead of a reconstruction functor as in [loc. cit.].\N\NThere is a number of important consequences that emerge from the construction of the abelianization and non-abelianization maps given in the present article:\N\begin{itemize}\N\item[1.] Non-commutative \(\mathcal{A}\)-coordinates on the space of decorated twisted \(G\)-local systems can be defined for the groups \(G\) of the form \(\text{GL}_2(A)\). The spectral network gives a geometric proof of the non-commutative Laurent phenomenon identified by \textit{A. Berenstein} and \textit{V. Retakh} [Adv. Math. 328, 1010--1087 (2018; Zbl 1395.14001)]. In fact, the spectral coordinates (holonomies of the abelianized connection) naturally obey a non-commutative Laurent phenomenon in rank 2, and the authors identify these non-commutative spectral coordinates with the non-commutative cluster coordinates introduced by Berenstein and Retakh, thus giving another proof of the Laurent phenomenon.\N\item[2.] The topology of the space of framed and of decorated \(\mathcal{T}\)-transverse twisted \(G\)-local systems can be understood. Namely, the moduli space of framed \(\mathcal{T}\)-transverse twisted \(\text{GL}_2(A)\)-local systems is homeomorphic to the space \((A^{\times})^{1-4\chi(S)}/A^{\times}\), while the moduli space of decorated \(\mathcal{T}\)-transverse twisted unipotent \(\text{GL}_2(A)\)-local systems is homeomorphic to the product of the moduli space of twisted \(A^{\times}\)-local systems on \(\bar{\Sigma}\) and \((A^{\times})^{2p}\), where \(p\) denotes the number of punctures of the surface \(S\).\N\item[3.] When the algebra \(A\) is equipped with an involution \(\sigma\), symplectic groups over involutive algebras as introduced in [\textit{D. Alessandrini} et al., Sel. Math., New Ser. 28, No. 4, Paper No. 82, 119 p. (2022; Zbl 1503.53111)] are considered and respective framed twisted symplectic local systems are studied in this paper. When the involutive algebra \((A, \sigma)\) is Hermitian, the authors describe the \(\mathcal{A}\)-coordinates of the moduli space of such symplectic local systems. Moreover, they describe the topology of the space of maximal framed symplectic local systems and the description essentially agrees with the one from [\textit{D. Alessandrini} et al., Noncommutative coordinates for symplectic representations. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (2024; Zbl 1560.22001)], yet the methods in the present article are totally different.\N\end{itemize}\N\NThis wealth of applications indicates that the approach via spectral networks that the authors follow here can be substantially fruitful in particular for the study of the non-commutative Laurent phenomenon and the definition of non-commutative \(\mathcal{A}\)-coordinates on moduli spaces of decorated twisted \(G\)-local systems.