Self-duality of the SL₂ Hitchin integrable system at genus 2

Algebraic moduli problems, moduli of vector bundles (14D20) Families, moduli of curves (algebraic) (14H10) Vector bundles on curves and their moduli (14H60) Theta functions and abelian varieties (14K25) Complex-analytic moduli problems (32G13) Completely integrable finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems, integration methods, integrability tests (37J35) Completely integrable infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian and Lagrangian systems, integration methods, integrability tests, integrable hierarchies (KdV, KP, Toda, etc.) (37K10)

Abstract: We revisit the Hitchin integrable system whose phase space is the bundle cotangent to the moduli space

N

of holomorphic

S L_{2}

-bundles over a smooth complex curve of genus two.

N

may be identified with the 3-dimensional projective space of theta functions of the second order, We prove that the Hitchin system on

T^{*} N

possesses a remarkable symmetry: it is invariant under the interchange of positions and momenta. This property allows to complete the work of van Geemen-Previato which, basing on the classical results on geometry of the Kummer quartic surfaces, specified the explicit form of the Hamiltonians of the Hitchin system. The resulting integrable system resembles the classic Neumann systems which are also self-dual. Its quantization produces a commuting family of differential operators of the second order acting on homogeneous polynomials in four complex variables. As recently shown by van Geemen-de Jong, these operators realize the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov-Bernard-Hitchin connection for group SU(2) and genus 2 curves.

Review text

The authors revisit the Hitchin integrable system whose phase space is the bundle cotangent to the moduli space \({\mathcal N}\) of holomorphic \(SL_2\)-bundles over a smooth complex curve of genus 2. As has been shown, \({\mathcal N}\) may be identified with the 3-dimensional projective space of theta functions of the 2nd order, i.e. \({\mathcal N}\cong\mathbb{P}^3\). The authors prove that the Hitchin system on \(T^*{\mathcal N}\cong\mathbb{P}^3\) possesses a remarkable symmetry: It is invariant under the interchange of positions and momenta. This property allows to complete the work by \textit{B. van Geemen} and \textit{E. Previato} [Duke Math. J. 85, No. 3, 659-683 (1996; Zbl 0879.14010)] which, basing on the classical results on geometry of the Kummer quartic surfaces, specified the explicit form of the Hamiltonians of the Hitchin system. The resulting integrable system resembles the classic Neumann systems which are also self-dual. Its quantization produces a commuting family of differential operators of the 2nd order acting on homogeneous polynomials in four complex variables. As recently shown by \textit{B. van Geemen} and \textit{A. J. de Jong} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 11, No. 1, 189-228 (1998; Zbl 0920.32017)] these operators realize the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov-Bernard-Hitchin connection for group \(SU(2)\) and genus 2 curves.

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