Invariant multi-functions and Hamiltonian flows for surface group representations

TL;DR

This paper extends Goldman’s work on Hamiltonian flows on surface group character varieties by studying flows induced by invariant multi-functions, introducing subsurface deformations, and analyzing Poisson brackets, with applications to trace functions.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of subsurface deformations for Hamiltonian flows from invariant multi-functions and provides formulas for Poisson brackets, expanding the understanding of surface group representations.

Findings

Hamiltonian flows are of subsurface deformation type.

Invariant multi-functions Poisson commute when supported on disjoint subsurfaces.

Many functions on character varieties arise from invariant multi-functions.

Abstract

Goldman defined a symplectic form on the smooth locus of the $G$-character variety of a closed, oriented surface $S$ for a Lie group $G$ satisfying very general hypotheses. He then studied the Hamiltonian flows associated to $G$-invariant functions $G \to \mathbb R$ obtained by evaluation on a simple closed curve and proved that they are generalized twist flows. In this article, we investigate the Hamiltonian flows on (subsets of the) $G$-character variety induced by evaluating a $G$-invariant multi-function $G^k \to \mathbb R$ on a tuple $ \underline{\alpha} \in \pi_1(S)^k$. We introduce the notion of a subsurface deformation along a supporting subsurface $S_0$ for $\underline{\alpha}$ and prove that the Hamiltonian flow of an induced invariant multi-function is of this type. We also give a formula for the Poisson bracket between two functions induced by invariant multi-functions and prove that they Poisson commute if their supporting subsurfaces are disjoint. We give many examples of functions on character varieties that arise in this way and discuss applications, for example, to the flow associated to the trace function for non-simple closed curves on $S$.