Towards a classification of connected components of the strata of k-differentials

IPFS File on IPFS (Hint: this is only the Hash - if you get a timeout, this file is not available on our server.)

\(k\)-differentials hyperelliptic structure quadratic differentials spin parity

Families, moduli of curves (algebraic) (14H10) Families, moduli of curves (analytic) (14H15) Moduli of Riemann surfaces, Teichmüller theory (complex-analytic aspects in several variables) (32G15)

Abstract: A

k

-differential on a Riemann surface is a section of the

k

-th power of the canonical bundle. Loci of

k

-differentials with prescribed number and multiplicities of zeros and poles form a natural stratification for the moduli space of

k

-differentials. The classification of connected components of the strata of

k

-differentials was known for holomorphic differentials, meromorphic differentials and quadratic differentials with at worst simple poles by Kontsevich--Zorich, Boissy and Lanneau, respectively. Built on their work we develop new techniques to study connected components of the strata of

k

-differentials for general

k

. As an application, we give a complete classification of connected components of the strata of quadratic differentials with arbitrary poles. Moreover, we distinguish certain components of the strata of

k

-differentials by generalizing the hyperelliptic structure and spin parity for higher

k

. We also describe an approach to determine explicitly parities of

k

-differentials in genus zero and one, which inspires an amusing conjecture in number theory. A key viewpoint we use is the notion of multi-scale

k

-differentials introduced by Bainbridge--Chen--Gendron--Grushevsky--M"oller for

k = 1

and extended by Costantini--M"oller--Zachhuber for all

k

.

Review text

For \(g \geq 0, k \geq 1\) and an integer partition \(\mu = (k_1, \dots, k_n)\) of \(k(g-2)\), the stratum of \(k\)-differentials \(\Omega^k \mathcal M_g (\mu)\) parametrizing sections of the \(k\)th power of the canonical bundle on genus \(g\) Riemann surfaces with \(n\) distinct zeros or poles of orders given by the signature \(\mu\) is a complex orbifold [\textit{M. Bainbridge} et al., Algebr. Geom. 6, No. 2, 196--233 (2019; Zbl 1440.14148)]. It is natural to ask when the space \(\Omega^k \mathcal M_g (\mu)\) is connected. When \(k=1\), the connected components were determined for holomorphic differentials (the case \(k_i \geq 0\)) by \textit{M. Kontsevich} and \textit{A. Zorich} [Invent. Math. 153, No. 3, 631--678 (2003; Zbl 1087.32010)] and for meromorphic differentials by \textit{C. Boissy} [Comment. Math. Helv. 90, 255--286 (2015; Zbl 1323.30060)]. Extra components arise due to hyperelliptic and spin structures. When \(k=2\) and \(k_i \geq -1\) (at worst simple poles), \textit{E. Lanneau} determined the connected components [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 41, No. 1, 1--56 (2008; Zbl 1161.30033)], where there are sometimes hyperelliptic components, but no components arising from spin structures. Building on the strategies of the pioneering works above, the authors develop a framework and new techniques towards studying the general case. They use the theory of multi-scale \(k\)-differentials due to \textit{M. Costantini} et al. [``The area is a good enough metric, Ann. Inst. Fourier (to appear)] to extend to all \(k \geq 1\) the operations of \textit{breaking up a zero} and \textit{bubbling a handle at a zero} (this increases genus by one) seen in the earlier work. They then generalize hyperelliptic components from \(k \leq 2\) to all \(k\) and determine precisely for which \(\mu\) the space \(\Omega^k \mathcal M_g (\mu)\) has a hyperelliptic component. Connected components of strata of lower order differentials give rise to connected components of higher order differentials by taking powers; these loci can be removed, leaving the remaining \textit{primitive locus} \(\Omega^k \mathcal M_g (\mu)^{\text{prim}}\). The authors generalize the notion of spin parity from \(k \leq 2\) to all \(k\) and prove that for \(g \geq 1\), the parity is constant on \(\Omega^k \mathcal M_g (\mu)^{\text{prim}}\) for \(k\) even, but when \(k\) is odd there are components of \(\Omega^k \mathcal M_g (\mu)^{\text{prim}}\) with distinct parities with the exception of \(\Omega^3 \mathcal M_g (6)^{\text{prim}}\), which is connected. For \(k=2\) (quadratic differentials) with some \(k_i \leq -2\) and \(g \geq 2\) the authors give a complete answer for primitive differentials: there are four types of special values of \(\mu\) for which \(\Omega^2 \mathcal M_g (\mu)^{\text{prim}}\) has two connected components (one hyperelliptic, the other not) and \(\Omega^2 \mathcal M_g (\mu)^{\text{prim}}\) is connected for all other \(\mu\). The paper concludes with an appendix in which the authors give an approach towards computing parity of \(k\)-differentials for curves of genus \(g \leq 1\), which leads them to a number-theoretic conjecture.

Recommendations

Cites work

Cited in

(18)

This page was built for publication: Towards a classification of connected components of the strata of \(k\)-differentials

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2152283)