Quantum traces for representations of surface groups in SL₂( C)

DOI10.2140/GT.2011.15.1569MaRDI QIDQ640341zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Publication date 18 October 2011

Published in Geometry \& Topology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1003.5250

character variety quantization quantum Teichmüller space skein algebra

Algebraic moduli problems, moduli of vector bundles (14D20) Moduli of Riemann surfaces, Teichmüller theory (complex-analytic aspects in several variables) (32G15) Topological quantum field theories (aspects of differential topology) (57R56)

Abstract: We consider two different quantizations of the character variety consisting of all representations of surface groups in SL_2. One is the skein algebra considered by Przytycki-Sikora and Turaev. The other is the quantum Teichmuller space introduced by Chekhov-Fock and Kashaev. We construct a homomorphism from the skein algebra to the quantum Teichmuller space which, when restricted the classical case, corresponds to the equivalence between these two algebras through trace functions.

Review text

The paper under review establishes a relation between two different quantizations of the character variety. Let \(S\) be an oriented surface of finite topological type. The character variety consists of all group homomorphisms from the fundamental group of \(S\) to the Lie group \(SL_2(\mathbb{C})\), considered up to conjugation by elements of \(SL_2(\mathbb{C})\). The first quantizations were introduced by \textit{D. Bullock, C. Frohman} and \textit{J. Kania-Bartoszyńska} [J. Knot Theory Ramifications 8, No.~3, 265--277 (1999; Zbl 0932.57015)], \textit{J. H. Przytycki} and \textit{A. S. Sikora} [Topology 39, No.~1, 115--148 (2000; Zbl 0958.57011)] and \textit{V. Turaev} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 24, No.~6, 635--704 (1991; Zbl 0758.57011)] by using the Kauffman skein algebra. This algebra is obtained by considering the vector space freely generated by all isotopy classes of framed links in \(S\times [0,1]\), and then taking the quotient of this space under the Kauffman skein relation. The commutative algebra of regular functions on the character variety is identified with the Kauffman skein algebra when the parameter \(A\) equals -1. The second quantization is the quantum Teichmüller space introduced by \textit{V. Fock} and \textit{L. Chekhov} [Theor. Math. Phys. 120, No.~3, 1245--1259 (1999; Zbl 0986.32007)] and \textit{R. Kashaev} [Lett. Math. Phys. 43, No.~2, 105--115 (1998; Zbl 0897.57014)] by using Thurston's shear coordinates. The construction of the quantum Teichmüller space relies on the existence of an ideal triangulation. But there is a natural homomorphism between the quantum Teichmüller spaces associated to two different ideal triangulations. This was rigorously established by \textit{F. Bonahon} and \textit{X. Liu} [Geom. Topol. 11, 889--937 (2007; Zbl 1134.57008), J. Knot Theory Ramifications 18, No.~5, 705--726 (2009; Zbl 1204.57033)]. The authors construct a homomorphism from the Kauffman skein algebra to the quantum Teichmüller space with a fixed ideal triangulation. When restricted to the classical case, this homomorphism corresponds to the equivalence between these two algebras through trace functions. By using works of \textit{C. Hiatt} [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 10, No.~3, 1245--1283 (2010; Zbl 1207.81034)], this homomorphism is shown to be independent of the choice of the ideal triangulation.

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