E-polynomial of SL₂(C)-character varieties of free groups

Abstract: Let

m a t h s f F_{r}

be a free group of rank

r

,

m a t h b b F_{q}

a finite field of order q, and let

m a t h r m {S L}_{n} (m a t h b b F_{q})

act on

m a t h r m H o m (m a t h s f F_{r}, m a t h r m {S L}_{n} (m a t h b b F_{q}))

by conjugation. We describe a general algorithm to determine the cardinality of the set of orbits

m a t h r m H o m (m a t h s f F_{r}, m a t h r m {S L}_{n} (m a t h b b F_{q})) / m a t h r m {S L}_{n} (m a t h b b F_{q})

. Our first main theorem is the implementation of this algorithm in the case

n = 2

. As an application, we determine the

E

-polynomial of the character variety

m a t h r m H o m (m a t h s f F_{r}, m a t h r m {S L}_{2} (m a t h b b C)) / /! / m a t h r m {S L}_{2} (m a t h b b C)

, and of its smooth and singular locus. Thus we determine the Euler characteristic of these spaces.

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