Topology of character varieties of abelian groups

Affine algebraic groups, hyperalgebra constructions (14L17) Geometric invariant theory (14L24) Group actions on varieties or schemes (quotients) (14L30) Topology of real algebraic varieties (14P25) Semisimple Lie groups and their representations (22E46)

Abstract: Let G be a complex reductive algebraic group (not necessarily connected), let K be a maximal compact subgroup, and let A be a finitely generated Abelian group. We prove that the conjugation orbit space Hom(A,K)/K is a strong deformation retract of the GIT quotient space Hom(A,G)//G. As a corollary, we determine necessary and sufficient conditions for the character variety Hom(A,G)//G to be irreducible when G is connected and semisimple. For a general connected reductive G, analogous conditions are found to be sufficient for irreducibility, when A is free abelian.

Review text

Let \(G\) be a complex reductive algebraic group. Let \(K\) be a maximal compact subgroup of \(G,\) and let \(\Gamma\) be a finitely generated abelian group of rank \(r\). Then \(G\) acts on \(\text{Hom}\left( \Gamma,G\right) ,\) and one can construct the affine GIT quotient \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\right) =\text{Hom}\left( \Gamma,G\right) /\!/G,\) which is called the \(G\)-character variety of \(\Gamma.\) Additionally, \(G\) acts on \(\text{Hom}\left( \Gamma,K\right) ,\) giving rise to the GIT quotient \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( K\right) ,\) similarly defined. In the work under review, it is shown that there is a strong deformation retract from \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\right) \) to \(\mathfrak{X} _{\Gamma}\left( K\right) .\) This result remains true upon restriction to the real locus \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\left( \mathbb{R}\right) \right) .\) Additionally, it is shown that \(\mathfrak{X}_{\Gamma}\left( G\right) \) is irreducible if and only if \(\Gamma\) is a free abelian group, and either (1) \(r=1\); (2) \(r=2\) and \(G\) is simply connected; or (3) \(r\geq3\) and \(G\) is a product of special linear and compact symplectic groups.

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