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# The complex-symplectic geometry of 𝖲𝖫(2,ℂ)-characters over surfaces

## Introduction

The $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-character variety of a closed surface $`M`$ with fundamental group $`\pi `$ is the space of equivalence classes of representations $`\varphi `$ of the fundamental group $`\pi `$ of $`M`$ into $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. The Teichmüller space $`𝔗(M)`$, the moduli space $`X_U`$ of irreducible flat unitary $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖴}(2)`$-bundles, the deformation space $`^1(M)`$ of $`^1`$-structures on $`M`$, and the quasi-Fuchsian space $`𝒬(M)`$ all lie in the smooth stratum $`X`$ of the $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-character variety. These spaces all share several common features: a symplectic geometry derived from the topology of $`M`$, and a compatible action of the mapping class group $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ of $`M`$. This paper investigates these structures in terms of the $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant complex-symplectic structure on $`X`$.

A complex-symplectic structure on a complex manifold is a nondegenerate closed holomorphic exterior 2-form. The $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-character variety is an affine variety defined over $``$ whose set of smooth $``$-points is a complex-symplectic manifold of complex dimension $`3\chi (M)`$ whose complex-symplectic structure is invariant under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$.

In , Fenchel and Nielsen develop a set of coordinates for $`𝔗(M)`$ based on hyperbolic geometry. This set of coordinates is based on a pants decomposition $`𝒫=\{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _N\}`$ on $`M`$, that is a set of disjoint simple closed curves $`\alpha _i`$ cutting $`M`$ into three-holed spheres (“pants”). In a hyperbolic structure on $`M`$, the curves $`\alpha _i`$ are represented by disjoint simple closed geodesics and their lengths define a function

$$l_𝒫:𝔗(M)(_+)^N$$

which consitute half of the Fenchel-Nielsen coordinates on $`𝔗(M)`$. According to Wolpert , these functions Poisson-commute and define a completely integrable Hamiltonian system. In the language of classical mechanics, these are the action variables, for which the Fenchel-Nielsen twist vector fields define angle variables. In particular $`l_𝒫`$ is the moment map for a Hamiltonian $`^N`$-action. Choosing a section $`\sigma `$ to $`l_𝒫`$ determines a symplectomorphim

$`(_+)^N\times ^N`$ $`𝔗(M)`$
$`(\lambda ;t)`$ $`\xi _t\sigma (\lambda )`$
where $`\xi _t`$ is the Hamiltonian $`^N`$-action defined by $`l_𝒫`$. See Wolpert  for details.

This picture motivated the study of a symplectic geometry of moduli spaces $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,G)/G`$ developed in . The results there extend directly to the complex-symplectic geometry of deformation spaces $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,G)/G`$ where $`G`$ is a complex Lie group with an $`\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}`$-invariant complex-orthogonal structure $`𝔹`$ on its Lie algebra. In this paper we consider only the special case $`G=\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ where $`𝔹`$ is the trace form. Corresponding to an element $`\alpha \pi `$ is the function $`f_\alpha :X`$ associating to the equivalence class of $`\varphi `$ the trace of $`\varphi (\alpha )`$. When $`\alpha `$ is represented by a simple closed curve $`A`$, then the complex-Hamiltonian vector field $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ generates a flow which is covered by a complex twist flow on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$. We study this flow, computing its periods, and relating it to the action on $`X`$ of the Dehn twist about $`A`$. Following , we relate the complex-symplectic geometry and the Hamiltonian actions to the Fenchel-Nielsen twist flows on $`𝔗(M)`$ and the complex earthquakes and bending deformations on $`^1(M)`$ and $`𝒬(M)`$.

In the presence of a conformal structure on $`M`$, the moduli spaces $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,G)/G`$ admit stronger structures (a Kähler structure when $`G`$ is compact, and hyper-Kähler when $`G`$ is complex), but these stronger structures fail to be $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant. However the symplectic (and complex-symplectic) structures are $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant. The symplectic structure defines a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant measure. By  and Pickrell-Xia , the resulting measure is ergodic under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ when $`G`$ is a compact Lie group. This has the following consequence for the holomorphic geometry when $`G`$ is complex:

###### Theorem.

There are no nonconstant $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant meromorphic functions on $`X`$.

The proof uses the inclusion of the set $`X_U`$ of irreducible unitary characters in $`X`$, and the ergodicity of the action of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ on $`X_U`$ (). A key idea in the proof is the action of the subgroup $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫`$ preserving a pants decomposition $`𝒫`$ of $`M`$. The group $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫`$ is a free abelian group freely generated by the Dehn twists about the curves in $`𝒫`$. This $`^N`$-action lies in a Hamiltonian $`^N`$-action. The map which associates to $`[\varphi ]`$ the collection of traces

$$X_U^N$$

is a moment map for the $`^N`$-action and is also the ergodic decomposition for the $`^N`$-action. The holomorphic analog is:

###### Theorem.

Every $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫`$-invariant meromorphic function on $`X`$ factors through the map

$$X^N$$

which associates to a character its values on the curves in $`𝒫`$.

The complex twist flows have been extensively studied in the quasi-Fuchsian space $`𝒬(M)`$, which is the open subset of the $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-character variety comprising equivalence classes of quasi-Fuchsian representations. In this case, the complex twist flows correspond geometrically to quake-bending pleated surfaces in quasi-Fuchsian hyperbolic 3-manifolds, that is, composing Fenchel-Nielsen twist flows (earthquakes) with bending deformations (Epstein-Marden ). These quakebends are defined more generally for geodesic laminations, although we only consider deformations supported on simple closed curves here. The complex Fenchel-Nielsen coordinates of Kourouniotis ) and Tan  are holomorphic Darboux coordinates for the complex-symplectic structure. We recover results of Platis  expressing the symplectic duality between the complex twist flows and the complex length functions, and the formula of Series  for the derivative of a complex length function under a twist flow in terms of the complex-symplectic geometry of $`X`$.

More generally the complex twist flows are defined for $`^1`$-structures, that is, geometric structures with coordinates modelled on $`^1`$ with coordinate changes in $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. Let $`^1(M)`$ denote the deformation space of $`^1`$-structures on $`M`$. Using the local biholomorphicity of the holonomy mapping

$$\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}:^1(M)\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,).$$

one obtains complex-symplectic structures, complex length functions, and Hamiltonian complex twist flows on $`^1(M)`$. The complex twist flows on $`^1`$-structures can be described geometrically by inserting annuli into a $`^1`$-manifold split along a simple closed curve which is locally circular. This is a special case of the grafting construction considered in Tanigawa  and McMullen . In particular closed curves in the complex trajectory of a complex twist flow lift to paths between different $`^1`$-structures with the same holonomy (Maskit and Hejhal, see Goldman ). The holomorphic properties of the grafting construction are discussed in McMullen , Tanigawa  and Scannell-Wolf .

## 1. Representation varieties and character varieties

Let $`M`$ be a closed oriented surface with fundamental group $`\pi `$. Let $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ denote the complex affine variety consisting of homomorphisms $`\pi \mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. (It is irreducible, by Goldman ; see Benyash-Krivets -Chernousov -Rapinchuk  for stronger more general results, and also Li .)

The group $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ acts by conjugation on the affine algebraic set $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$. Let $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))/\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ denote the set of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-orbits of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$. Denote the orbit of a representation $`\varphi `$ by

$$[\varphi ]\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)).$$

### 1.1. Stable and semistable points

A homomorphism

$$\varphi \mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))$$

is irreducible if it leaves invariant no proper linear subspace of $`^2`$. Equivalently, $`\varphi `$ is irreducible if the corresponding projective action fixes no point in $`^1`$. Irreducible homomorphisms are the stable points of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ (with respect to the $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-action). The subset of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ consisting of irreducible homomorphisms is Zariski-open and nonsingular. $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s`$ is a complex manifold of complex dimension $`6g3`$ (see ).

More generally, a homomorphism is reductive if every invariant subspace possesses an invariant complement. Equivalently, $`\varphi `$ is reductive if it is either reducible or fixes a pair of distinct points on $`^1`$ or is central. A central homomorphism maps into the center $`\{\pm 𝕀\}`$ of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ and acts trivially on $`^1`$. Letting $`\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi )`$ denote the subset of $`^1`$ fixed by $`\varphi `$, a homomorphism $`\varphi `$ is reductive if and only if $`\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi )`$ equals $`\mathrm{}`$, a pair of distinct points, or all of $`^1`$. Reductive homomorphisms are the semistable points of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ (with respect to the $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-action),comprising the subset

$$\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^{ss}\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)).$$

A semistable (respectively stable) orbit is the orbit of a semistable (respectively stable) point.

Let $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ denote the set of $``$-points of the categorical quotient of the $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-action on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$, that is, the variety whose coordinate ring is the ring of invariants of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ acting on the coordinate ring $`[\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))]`$ of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$. The natural map

$$\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))/\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)$$

is surjective, but not injective. However $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ may be identified with the set of semistable orbits. Thus the inclusion

$$\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^{ss}\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))$$

induces a bijection

$$\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^{ss}/\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,).$$

The group $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ acts freely and properly on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s`$. The quotient $`X:=\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s/\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ is thus a $`(6g6)`$-dimensional complex manifold which embeds as a Zariski open subset of the categorical quotient $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. Thus the map

$$X=\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s/\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)$$

induced by $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ is an embedding onto an open subset. Thus $`X`$ is a smooth irreducible complex quasi-affine variety which is dense in the quotient $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$.

### 1.2. Symplectic geometry of deformation spaces

By the general construction of , $`X`$ has a natural complex-symplectic structure $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$, which is $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant. Furthermore $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ is algebraic in the sense that there exists an algebraic tensor field on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ inducing $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$. (See  for an explicit formula.)

The Zariski tangent space $`T_\varphi \mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ is the space

$$Z^1(\pi ,𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi })$$

of 1-cocycles  $`\pi 𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi }`$ and the tangent space $`T_\varphi (G\varphi )`$ of the $`G`$-orbit equals the subspace

$$B^1(\pi ,𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi })Z^1(\pi ,𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi })$$

of 1-coboundaries. (Compare Raghunathan .) The quotient vector space is the cohomology

$$H^1(\pi ,𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi })$$

which, under the de Rham isomorphism is isomorphic to the cohomology $`H^1(M;V_\varphi )`$ where $`V_\varphi `$ denotes the flat vector bundle over $`M`$ corresponding to the $`\pi `$-module $`𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi }`$.

Let $`𝔹:𝔰𝔩(2,)\times 𝔰𝔩(2,)`$ be the trace form of the standard representation on $`^2`$: if $`\alpha ,\beta 𝔰𝔩(2,)`$, then the inner product is defined as

$$𝔹(\alpha ,\beta ):=\mathrm{𝗍𝗋}(\alpha \beta ).$$

Since $`𝔹`$ is $`\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}`$-invariant, it defines a bilinear pairing of $`\pi `$-modules

$$𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi }\times 𝔰𝔩(2,)_{\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}\varphi }$$

or equivalently flat vector bundles

$$V_\varphi \times V_\varphi .$$

Cup-product defines a bilinear pairing

$$\mathrm{\Omega }_\varphi :H^1(M;V_\varphi )\times H^1(M;V_\varphi )$$

with coefficients paired by $`𝔹`$. Symmetry of $`𝔹`$ implies that $`\mathrm{\Omega }_\varphi `$ is skew-symmetric. Since $`𝔹`$ is nondegenerate, $`\mathrm{\Omega }_\varphi `$ is nondegenerate. It follows from  that $`\mathrm{\Omega }_\varphi `$ can be expressed as an algebraic tensor on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$, and thus is a holomorphic exterior 2-form. By arguments of  or Karshon , Weinstein , Guruprasad-Huebschmann-Jeffrey-Weinstein , $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is closed. Thus $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is a nondegenerate closed holomorphic $`(2,0)`$-form, that is a complex-symplectic structure.

### 1.3. The mapping class group

The automorphism group $`\mathrm{𝖠𝗎𝗍}(\pi )`$ of $`\pi `$ acts algebraically on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ commuting with the action of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. The normal subgroup $`\mathrm{𝖨𝗇𝗇}(\pi )`$ of inner automorphisms acts trivially on the quotient $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. The quotient $`\mathrm{𝖮𝗎𝗍}(\pi )=\mathrm{𝖠𝗎𝗍}(\pi )/\mathrm{𝖨𝗇𝗇}(\pi )`$, acts on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$, leaving invariant the subset $`X`$. Furthermore the mapping class group $`\mathrm{\Gamma }:=\pi _0(\mathrm{𝖣𝗂𝖿𝖿}^+(M))`$ of $`M`$ is isomorphic to $`\mathrm{𝖮𝗎𝗍}(\pi )`$ by Nielsen . The algebraic complex-symplectic structure on $`X`$ is $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant.

### 1.4. Ergodicity and its holomorphic analog

The subset $`X_U`$ of unitary characters is invariant under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$. Furthermore the complex-symplectic structure restricts to a (real) symplectic structure on $`X_U`$ which is the Kähler form for a Kähler structure on $`X_U`$. In particular the Lebesgue measure class on $`X_U`$ is invariant under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$. The main result of  is that this action is ergodic, that is every $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant measurable function on $`X_U`$ is constant almost everywhere.

Ergodicity no longer holds for the $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-character variety $`X`$ (see §4.3). However ergodicity on $`X_U`$ does imply the following property of holomorphic functions on $`X`$:

###### Theorem 1.4.1.

A $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant meromorphic function $`X\stackrel{h}{}^1`$ is constant.

###### Proof.

The restriction of $`h`$ to $`X_U`$ is a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant measurable function, and by the main result of Goldman , $`h`$ must be constant almost everywhere. Since $`h`$ is continuous, it is constant.

Now we argue that in local holomorphic coordinates, $`X_U`$ is equivalent to $`^n^n`$ and a holomorphic function constant on $`X_U`$ must be globally constant on $`X`$. (Compare, for example, Lemma 1 of §2.3 of Platis ). For the reader’s convenience, we supply a brief proof. Let $`𝒰`$ be a nonempty open coordinate neighborhood with local holomorphic coordinates $`z=(z^1,\mathrm{},z^n)`$. In local holomorphic coordinates, $`X_U𝒰`$ is described by

$$z^n^n$$

and $`h`$ is given by a power series

$$h(z)=\underset{k=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}a_kz^k$$

which converges in the nonempty open set $`z(𝒰)^n`$. Since the restriction of $`h`$ to a $`z(𝒰)^n`$ is constant, $`a_k=0`$ for $`k>0`$ and thus $`h`$ is constant on $`𝒰`$. Since $`X`$ is connected, analytic continuation implies that $`h`$ must be constant. ∎

We do not know whether $`XX_U`$ admits $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant nonconstant meromorphic functions.

## 2. The Hamiltonian vector field of a character function

Corresponding to free homotopy classes $`\alpha `$ of closed curves on $`M`$ are complex regular functions $`f_\alpha :X`$. The complex-symplectic structure associates to these functions complex Hamiltonian vector fields $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$, which generate holomorphic local flows on $`X`$. When $`\alpha `$ corresponds to a simple closed curve, we define complex twist flows on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ which cover these holomorphic local flows on $`X`$. We begin with an preliminary section on the traces in $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$.

### 2.1. The variation of the trace function on $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$

Let

$$f:\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)$$

be the trace function $`f(P)=\mathrm{𝗍𝗋}(P)`$ and $`𝔹`$ the trace form

$`𝔰𝔩(2,)\times 𝔰𝔩(2,)`$ $``$
$`(X,Y)`$ $`\mathrm{𝗍𝗋}(XY).`$
As in Goldman  the differential of $`f`$ and the orthogonal structure $`𝔹`$ determines a variation function

$$F:\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)𝔰𝔩(2,)$$

characterized by the identity

$$\frac{d}{dt}|_{t=0}f\left(P\mathrm{exp}(tX)\right)=𝔹(F(P),X).$$

This function is defined by:

$$F(P)=P\frac{\mathrm{𝗍𝗋}(P)}{2}𝕀$$

and corresponds to the composition of the inclusion

$$\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)𝔤𝔩(2,)$$

with orthogonal projection

$$𝔤𝔩(2,)𝔰𝔩(2,)$$

(orthogonal with respect to the trace form $`𝔹`$ on $`𝔰𝔩(2,)`$). Invariance of the trace

$$f(QPQ^1)=f(P)$$

and $`\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}`$-invariance of the orthogonal structure $`𝔹`$

$$𝔹(\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}(Q)X,\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}(Q)Y)=𝔹(X,Y)$$

implies $`\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}`$-equivariance of its variation:

(2.1)
$$F(QPQ^1)=\mathrm{𝖠𝖽}(Q)F(P).$$

Taking $`Q=P`$ shows that $`F(P)`$ lies in the centralizer of $`P`$ in $`𝔰𝔩(2,)`$. In particular the complex one-parameter subgroup of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$

(2.2)
$$\zeta _t:=\mathrm{exp}\left(tF(P)\right)$$

centralizes $`A`$ in $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$.

For example, if $`P`$ is the diagonal matrix

$$\left[\begin{array}{cc}\lambda & 0\\ 0& \lambda ^1\end{array}\right]$$

then $`f(P)=\lambda +\lambda ^1`$ and

$$F(P)=\frac{\lambda \lambda ^1}{2}\left[\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right]$$

with corresponding complex one-parameter subgroup:

(2.3)
$$\zeta _t=\left[\begin{array}{cc}e^{t(\lambda \lambda ^1)/2}& 0\\ 0& e^{t(\lambda \lambda ^1)/2}\end{array}\right].$$

If $`P`$ is $`\pm `$ the unipotent matrix

$$\left[\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right]$$

then $`f(P)=\pm 2`$ and

$$F(P)=\left[\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ 0& 0\end{array}\right]$$

with corresponding complex one-parameter subgroup:

(2.4)
$$\zeta _t=\left[\begin{array}{cc}1& t\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right]$$

The following lemma, whose proof is immediate from the above calculations, will be needed in the sequel. Recall that for any subset $`S\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$, $`\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(S)`$ denotes the subset of $`^1`$ fixed by $`S`$.

###### Lemma 2.1.1.

If $`P\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$, then $`\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\zeta _t)=\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(P)`$ or $`\zeta _t=\pm 𝕀`$

### 2.2. Character functions

Let $`\alpha \pi `$. The character function

$`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ $`\stackrel{\stackrel{~}{f}_\alpha }{}`$
$`\varphi `$ $`f(\varphi (\alpha ))`$
is a regular function. Since $`f`$ is a class function, $`\stackrel{~}{f}_\alpha `$ is invariant under $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ and defines a regular function

$$f_\alpha :X.$$

Let $`[\varphi ]X`$. Then the tangent space to $`X`$ equals $`H^1(M;V_\varphi )`$, so the Hamiltonian vector field $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ associates to $`[\varphi ]X`$ a tangent vector in $`H^1(M;V_\varphi )`$.

Cap product with the fundamental homology class $`[M]H_2(M;)`$ defines the Poincaré duality isomorphism:

$$[M]:H^1(M;V_\varphi )\stackrel{}{}H_1(M;V_\varphi ).$$

Choose a basepoint $`x_0M`$, an isomorphism of the fiber of $`V_\varphi `$ over $`x_0`$ with $`^2`$, and a representative holonomy homomorphism

$$\varphi _0:\pi _1(M;x_0)\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,).$$

Let $`s_0S^1`$ be a basepoint. Let $`\alpha _0:(S^1,s_0)(M,x_0)`$ be a based loop in $`M`$ corresponding to $`\alpha `$. Let $`\sigma `$ be the parallel section of the flat vector bundle $`\alpha _0^{}V_\varphi `$ over $`S^1`$ which equals $`F(\varphi _0(\alpha _0))`$ at $`s_0`$. Then $`\sigma `$ defines a $`V_\varphi `$-valued 1-cycle in $`M`$, with homology class

$$[\sigma ]H_1(M;V_\varphi ).$$

###### Lemma 2.2.1.

The value of the Hamiltonian vector field $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ at a point $`[\varphi ]X`$ is the vector in

$$T_{[\varphi ]}XH^1(M;V_\varphi )$$

corresponding to the Poincaré dual of the homology class of the $`V_\varphi `$-valued cycle $`\sigma `$:

$`[M]:H^1(M;V_\varphi )`$ $`H_1(M;V_\varphi )`$
$`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ $`[\sigma ].`$
Using the above formula and the duality between cup-product and intersections of cycles, we obtain a formula for the Poisson bracket of trace functions ():

###### Proposition 2.2.2.

Let $`\alpha ,\beta `$ be oriented closed curves meeting transversely in double points $`p_1,\mathrm{},p_k`$. For each $`p_i`$, choose representatives

$$\varphi _i:\pi _1(M;p_i)\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,).$$

Let $`\alpha _i`$ and $`\beta _i`$ be the elements of $`\pi _1(M;p_i)`$ representing $`\alpha ,\beta `$ respectively. Then the Poisson bracket of functions $`f_\alpha ,f_\beta `$ is:

$`\{f_\alpha ,f_\beta \}`$ $`=\mathrm{\Omega }(\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha ),\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\beta ))`$
$`={\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{k}{}}}ϵ(p_i;\alpha ,\beta )𝔹(F(\varphi _i(\alpha _i)),F(\varphi _i(\beta _i)))`$
where $`ϵ(p_i;\alpha ,\beta )`$ denotes oriented intersection number.

###### Corollary 2.2.3.

If $`\alpha ,\beta `$ are disjoint, then $`f_\alpha `$ and $`f_\beta `$ Poisson-commute.

By arguments in  (based on a suggestion of S. Wolpert), the converse holds if one of $`\alpha `$ or $`\beta `$ is simple. A purely topological proof of this fact has recently been given by Chas .

### 2.3. Complex twist flows

Suppose that $`\alpha `$ is represented by a simple closed curve $`A`$. Then a holomorphic $``$-action on the representation variety $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ covers the complex Hamiltonian flow on $`X`$. The complex twist flow $`\tau _\alpha `$ is the holomorphic action of $``$ of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ defined as follows.

There are two cases, depending on whether $`A`$ separates $`M`$ or not. Denote by $`M|A`$ the compact surface with boundary whose interior is homeomorphic to the complement $`MA`$. Denote the two components of $`(M|A)`$ by $`A_+`$ and $`A_{}`$. The quotient map $`q:M|AA`$ results from identifying these components by a homeomorphism $`\eta :A_+A_{}`$.

#### 2.3.1. The nonseparating case.

If $`A`$ is nonseparating, then $`M|A`$ is connected, and choosing a basepoint in $`A_+`$ we express $`\pi `$ as an HNN-extension

$$\pi _1(M|A)_\iota $$

as follows. Choose a basepoint $`x_0A`$, and lift it to a basepoint $`\stackrel{~}{x}_0A_+M|A`$. Let $`\alpha _+`$ denote the element of $`\pi _1(M|A;\stackrel{~}{x}_0)`$ corresponding to $`A_+`$. Let $`\stackrel{~}{\beta }`$ denote a simple arc joining $`\stackrel{~}{x}_0`$ to $`\eta (\stackrel{~}{x}_0)`$ in $`M|A`$, and $`\alpha _{}`$ the based loop $`\stackrel{~}{\beta }^1\alpha _+\stackrel{~}{\beta }`$ at the basepoint $`\stackrel{~}{x}_0`$. Then $`\eta `$ corresponds to the isomorphism

$$\iota :\alpha _+\alpha _{}$$

between the two subgroups of $`\pi _1(M|A)`$. Let $`N`$ be the normal closure of the element

$$\beta \alpha _+\beta ^1\left(\alpha _{}\right)^1$$

of $`\pi _1(M|A)\beta `$. Then the HNN-extension $`\pi _1(M|A)_\iota `$ is defined as the quotient

$$\pi \left(\pi _1(M|A)\beta \right)/N.$$

As in , for any $`\varphi \mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$, and $`t`$, define

(2.5)
$$\xi _t(\varphi ):\gamma \{\begin{array}{cc}\varphi (\gamma )\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma \pi _1(M|A)\hfill \\ \varphi (\beta )\zeta _t\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma =\beta \text{.}\hfill \end{array}$$

where

$$\zeta _t=\mathrm{exp}\left(tF(\varphi (\alpha _+))\right)$$

is the one-parameter subgroup corresponding to $`\varphi (\alpha _+)`$.

#### 2.3.2. The separating case.

If $`A`$ separates $`M`$, then let $`M_+`$ and $`M_{}`$ denote the two components of $`M|A`$. Then $`\pi `$ is the free product of subgroups corresponding to $`\pi _+(M_+)`$ and $`\pi _1(M_{})`$ respectively, amalgamated over the images $`\alpha \pi _1(M_\pm )`$. Then as in , for any $`\varphi \mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$, $`t`$, define

$$\xi _t^\alpha (\varphi ):\gamma \{\begin{array}{cc}\varphi (\gamma )\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma \pi _1(M_+)\hfill \\ \zeta _t\varphi (\gamma )\zeta _t\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma \pi _1(M_{})\hfill \end{array}$$

where

$$\zeta _t=\mathrm{exp}(tF(\varphi (\alpha ))$$

is the one-parameter subgroup corresponding to $`\varphi (\alpha )`$.

#### 2.3.3. Irreducibility

To show that the Hamiltonian flows act on $`X`$, we need to show that the complex twist flows preserve the set of irreducible representations.

###### Lemma 2.3.1.

Suppose that $`\varphi \mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s`$. Then

$$\xi _t^\alpha (\varphi )\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s.$$

###### Proof.

Let $`M^{}`$ be a component of $`M|A`$. As above, choose basepoints and identifications to express $`\pi `$ as an amalgamated free product or HNN construction with $`\pi _1(M^{})\pi _1(M)`$. Then

$$\xi _t^\alpha \varphi (\pi )\varphi (\pi _1(M^{}))$$

implies that if $`\varphi _{\pi _1(M^{})}`$ is irreducible, then so is $`\xi _t^\alpha \varphi `$. Thus we may assume that $`\varphi _{\pi _1(M^{})}`$ is reducible but $`\varphi `$ is irreducible.

Suppose first that $`A`$ is nonseparating. We assume $`\xi _t^\alpha \varphi `$ is reducible and derive a contradiction. Let $`\mathrm{\Phi }=\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi (\pi _1(M|A)))`$. Since

$$\varphi (\alpha _+)\varphi \left(\pi _1(M|A)\right),$$

the element $`\varphi (\alpha _+)`$ fixes $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$, and Lemma 2.1.1 implies that $`\zeta _t`$ fixes $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$. Since $`\xi _t^\alpha \varphi (\pi )`$ is reducible and is generated by $`\varphi (\pi _1(M|A))`$ and $`\varphi (\beta )`$, it follows that

$$\xi _t^\alpha \varphi (\beta )=\varphi (\beta )\zeta _t$$

fixes no element of $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$. Since $`\zeta _t`$ fixes $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$, this implies that $`\varphi (\beta )`$ fixes $`\mathrm{\Phi }`$, a contradiction.

Suppose finally that $`A`$ separates $`M`$ into two components $`M_\pm `$. By the remark above, we may assume that $`\varphi _{\pi _1(M_\pm )}`$ is reducible. Let

$$\mathrm{\Phi }_\pm =\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi (\pi _1(M_\pm ))).$$

We may assume that each $`\mathrm{\Phi }_\pm `$ is nonempty but $`\mathrm{\Phi }_+\mathrm{\Phi }_{}=\mathrm{}`$. Now $`\varphi (\alpha )`$ fixes each $`\mathrm{\Pi }_\pm `$, and Lemma 2.1.1 implies that $`\zeta _t`$ fixes each $`\mathrm{\Pi }_\pm `$. Since $`\varphi (\pi _1(M_+))`$ and $`\zeta _t\varphi (\pi _1(M_{}))\zeta _t^1`$ generate $`\xi _t^\alpha \varphi (\pi )`$,

$`\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\xi _t^\alpha \varphi (\pi ))`$ $`=\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}\left(\varphi (\pi _1(M_+))\right)\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}\left(\zeta _t\varphi (\pi _1(M_{}))\zeta _t^1\right)`$
$`=\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}\left(\varphi (\pi _1(M_+))\right)\zeta _t\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi (\pi _1(M_{}))))`$
$`=\mathrm{\Phi }_+\zeta _t\mathrm{\Phi }_{}`$
$`=\mathrm{\Phi }_+\mathrm{\Phi }_{}=\mathrm{}`$
as desired. ∎

### 2.4. Gauge-Theoretic Interpretation

These twist flows admit an interpretation in terms of flat connections. The character variety $`X`$ identifies with the quotient of the space $`^{irr}(E)`$ of irreducible flat $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-connections on a principal $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-bundle $`E`$ over $`M`$ by the group $`𝒢(E)`$ of gauge transformations of $`E`$. (Since a principal $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-bundle over $`M`$ which admits a flat connection is necessarily trivial, we may assume $`E`$ is the product bundle.)

Let $`AM`$ be a simple closed curve, and choose a basepoint $`a_0A`$. Choose an orientation on $`A`$ and let $`\alpha `$ be a based loop on $`M`$ corresponding to the orientation on $`A`$.

Pull $`E`$ back to a principal $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-bundle $`q^{}E`$ over $`M|A`$ by the quotient map $`q:MM|A`$. Choose a point $`e_0`$ in the fiber of $`E`$ over $`a_0`$. Let $`a_\pm `$ be the two elements of $`q^1(a_0)`$ in $`A_\pm `$ respectively and $`e_\pm `$ the elements in the fibers of $`q^{}E`$ over $`a_\pm `$ corresponding to $`e_0`$.

Define the twist flow $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }_t`$ on $`^{irr}(E)`$ as follows. Let $`^{irr}(E)`$ be a flat connection on $`E`$. Parallel transport of $`e_0`$ along $`\alpha `$ with respect to $`\alpha `$ defines a holonomy transformation $`\varphi _0(\alpha _0)`$ as above. Let $`\zeta _t`$ denote the corresponding one-parameter subgroup of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. There is a one-parameter family of gauge-transformations $`g_t`$ of $`q^{}E`$ supported in a collar neighborhood $`N`$ of $`A_+M|A`$ assuming the “value” $`\zeta _t`$ on $`A_+`$.

Explicitly, choose a smooth embedding

$$\psi :[0,1]\times S^1NM|A$$

mapping $`\{1\}\times S^1`$ diffeomorphically to $`A_+`$. Let $`r:[0,1]S^1`$ denote the quotient mapping identifying $`0,1[0,1]`$. Parallel transport of $`e_+`$ defines a trivialization of the pullback of $`E`$ to $`[0,1]\times [0,1]`$ so that $`\psi ^{}E`$ identifies with the quotient of

$$[0,1]\times [0,1]\times \mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)$$

by the identification

$$(s,0,h)(s,1,\varphi _0(\alpha _0)h).$$

Define $`g_t`$ as the gauge transformation which is the identity map on the complement of $`N`$ in $`M|A`$, and equals

$$(s,\theta ,h)(s,\theta ,\zeta _{s,t}h)$$

in this trivialization.

Since $`\zeta _t`$ centralizes the holonomy of $`q^{}`$ along $`A_+`$, the identification map $`\eta :A_{}A_+`$ identifies the restrictions of $`(g_t)^{}(q^{})`$ to $`A_\pm `$. Thus a unique flat connection $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }_t()`$ exists, satisfying

$$q^{}\left(\stackrel{~}{\xi }_t()\right)=(g_t)^{}(q^{}).$$

This is the orbit of the twist flow on flat connections. Clearly the gauge transformation $`g_t`$ does not arise from a gauge transformation of $`E`$, unless the holonomy along $`A`$ is $`\pm 𝕀`$. The orbit covers the orbit of the holonomy of $``$ under the twist flow in $`X^{irr}(E)/𝒢(E)`$.

The flow $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }`$ on $`^{irr}(E)`$ depends only on the choice of the collar neighborhood $`NM|A`$ and $`\psi :[0,1]\times S^1N`$.

### 2.5. Periods

The subspace $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖴}(2))^s`$ maps to a (real) symplectic submanifold $`X_UX`$, and the corresponding real flows define Hamiltonian systems which have been studied in , and are closely related to periodic flows studied by Jeffrey-Weitsman . The orbits of these flows are all closed, although the period of the orbit varies with the value of $`f`$.

###### Proposition 2.5.1.

Let $`[\varphi ]X_U`$ and let $`\alpha \pi `$ be represented by a simple loop $`A`$. If $`f_\alpha ([\varphi ]\pm 2`$, the period of the trajectory of the flow of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ at $`[\varphi ]`$ equals

$$\frac{4\pi }{\sqrt{4f_\alpha ([\varphi ])^2}}$$

if $`A`$ is nonseparating and

$$\frac{2\pi }{\sqrt{4f_\alpha ([\varphi ])^2}}$$

if $`A`$ separates. If $`f_\alpha ([\varphi ])=\pm 2`$, then $`[\varphi ]`$ is fixed under the flow of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`P\mathrm{𝖲𝖴}(2)`$. Apply an inner automorphism of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖴}(2)`$ to assume that $`P`$ is diagonal:

(2.6)
$$P=\left[\begin{array}{cc}e^{i\theta }& 0\\ 0& e^{i\theta }\end{array}\right].$$

Then

$$f(P)=2\mathrm{cos}(\theta ),F(P)=\left[\begin{array}{cc}i\mathrm{sin}(\theta )& 0\\ 0& i\mathrm{sin}(\theta )\end{array}\right]$$

with corresponding one-parameter subgroup

$$\zeta _t=\mathrm{exp}(tF(P))=\left[\begin{array}{cc}e^{i\mathrm{sin}(\theta )t}& 0\\ 0& e^{i\mathrm{sin}(\theta )t}\end{array}\right]$$

Since the $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-action on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s`$ is proper and free, the quotient map is a principal $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-fibration:

$$\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^sX.$$

Thus the trajectory of the flow $`\xi _t^\alpha `$ projects diffeomorphically to the trajectory of the flow of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ on $`X`$. The period equals the infimum of all $`t>0`$ such that

$$\xi _t^\alpha (\varphi )=\varphi .$$

If $`\alpha `$ is nonseparating, then (2.5) implies that $`T`$ equals the infimum of all $`t>0`$ such that

$$\zeta _t\varphi (\beta )=\varphi (\beta ).$$

By (2.2),

$$T=\frac{2\pi }{\mathrm{sin}(\theta )}=\frac{4\pi }{\sqrt{4f_\alpha ([\varphi ])^2}}$$

If $`\alpha `$ separates, then (2.3.2) implies that $`T`$ equals the infimum of all $`t>0`$ such that

$$\zeta _t\varphi (\beta )\zeta _t=\varphi (\beta ).$$

for all $`\beta \pi _1(M_{})`$. If

$$\varphi (\beta )\{\pm 𝕀\}=\mathrm{𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋}(\mathrm{𝖲𝖴}(2))$$

for all $`\beta \pi _1(M_{})`$, then $`\varphi (\alpha )=1`$. Since $`\varphi \mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))^s,`$ there exists $`\beta \pi `$ such that $`\varphi (\beta )1`$. The period $`T`$ is the infimum of all $`t>0`$ such that $`\zeta _t=\pm 𝕀`$. By (2.2),

$$T=\frac{\pi }{\mathrm{sin}(\theta )}=\frac{2\pi }{\sqrt{4f_\alpha ([\varphi ])^2}}$$

### 2.6. Dehn twists

Closely related to the twist flows are the maps of $`X_U`$ induced by Dehn twists. Recall that the Dehn twist about a simple loop $`AM`$ is the diffeomorphism supported in a tubular neighborhood of $`A`$. If

$`\psi :[0,1]\times S^1`$ $`M`$
$`\{{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\}\times S^1`$ $`A`$
is such a tubular neighborhood, then the Dehn twist $`\tau _A`$ about $`A`$ is $`\psi `$-related to the diffeomorphism of $`[0,1]\times S^1`$ (restricting to the identity on the boundary) defined by:

$$(s,e^{i\theta })(s,e^{2\pi is}e^{i\theta }).$$

The action of $`\tau _A`$ on the fundamental group is given by:

$$(\tau _A)_{}(\varphi ):\gamma \{\begin{array}{cc}\varphi (\gamma )\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma \pi _1(M|A)\hfill \\ \varphi (\beta )\varphi (\alpha )\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma =\beta \text{.}\hfill \end{array}$$

if $`A`$ is nonseparating, and by:

$$(\tau _A)_{}(\varphi ):\gamma \{\begin{array}{cc}\varphi (\gamma )\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma \pi _1(M_+)\hfill \\ \varphi (\alpha )\varphi (\gamma )\varphi (\alpha )^1\hfill & \text{ if }\gamma \pi _1(M_{})\hfill \end{array}$$

if $`A`$ separates.

Let $`P`$ be as in (2.6). Comparing (2.6) with (2.2), $`\zeta _t=P`$ for

$$\theta =\mathrm{sin}(\theta )t,$$

that is,

(2.7)
$$t=\frac{\theta }{\mathrm{sin}(\theta )}=\frac{\mathrm{cos}^1\left(f(P)/2\right)}{2\pi \sqrt{4f(P)^2}}.$$

Combining (2.6), (2.6) with (2.7) implies:

###### Proposition 2.6.1.

Let $`\alpha \pi `$ correspond to a simple closed curve $`AM`$. The map $`(\tau _A)_{}`$ on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ induced by Dehn twist about $`A`$ equals the time-$`t`$ map of the flow generated by $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$, where

$$t=\frac{2\mathrm{cos}^1(f_\alpha ([\varphi ])/2)}{\sqrt{4f_\alpha ([\varphi ])^2}}.$$

In terms of a parametrization $`/X_U`$ of this trajectory, $`(\tau _A)_{}`$ acts by translation of

$$\frac{\theta }{2\pi }=\frac{\mathrm{cos}^1\left(f(P)/2\right)}{2\pi }$$

which has infinite order for almost every value of $`f(A)`$.

By reparametrizing the flow, we obtain Hamiltonian flows whose time-one map is the identity map or the Dehn twist. Jeffrey-Weitsman  (§5.1), consider flows of Hamiltonians given by invariant functions

$$\theta (P)=\mathrm{cos}^1\left(\frac{f(P)}{2}\right)$$

which define $`S^1`$-actions, but are undefined at $`P=\pm 𝕀`$. Thus their flows are only defined on the on the dense open subset where $`\varphi (P)`$ is not central. On the other hand their flows are periodic with period $`2\pi `$ if $`A`$ is nonseparating, and period $`\pi `$ if $`A`$ separates. (Actually they work with the symplectic form which is $`1/(4\pi ^2)`$ of ours, to obtain a 2-form with integral cohomology class. Thus their periods are $`1/(2\pi )`$ if $`A`$ is nonseparating and $`1/(4\pi )`$ if $`A`$ separates.)

#### 2.6.1. Orbits of complex twist flows

On the $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$-character variety $`X`$, the Hamiltonian vector field $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ generates a holomorphic $``$-action. (2.4) implies that if $`f(A)=\pm 2`$ and $`A\pm 𝕀`$ (that is, $`A`$ is $`\pm `$-unipotent), then the trajectory defines an injective holomorphic map

(2.8) $``$ $`X`$
$`t`$ $`\xi _t^\alpha ([\varphi ]).`$
If $`f(A)\pm 2`$, then (2.3) implies that $`\zeta _t=1`$ whenever $`tt_0`$ where

(2.9)
$$t_0:=\frac{4\pi i}{\lambda \lambda ^1}=\frac{4\pi i}{\left(f(A)^24\right)^{1/2}}$$

(which is well-defined only up to sign). In this case the trajectory of $`[\varphi ]`$ is the image of the holomorphic embedding

(2.10) $`^{}`$ $`X`$
$`e^z`$ $`\xi _{\left(2z/(\lambda \lambda ^1)\right)}^\alpha \left([\varphi ]\right).`$
#### 2.6.2. Dehn twists

At a point $`[\varphi ]X`$ where $`f_\alpha (\varphi )=\pm 2`$, then either

* $`\varphi (\alpha )=\pm 𝕀`$ is a central element and $`[\varphi ]`$ is fixed under the entire $``$-action, or
* $`\varphi (\alpha )`$ is $`\pm `$ a parabolic element and (2.4) implies $`\varphi (\alpha )=\pm \mathrm{exp}F(\alpha )`$.

In the latter case the embedding (2.8) is equivariant with respect to the action of $``$ by translation on $``$ and the $``$-action generated by $`(\tau _A)_{}`$ on $`X`$.

Suppose that $`f_\alpha ([\varphi ])\pm 2`$. In that case $`\zeta _t=P`$ precisely when $`tt_1\left(\mathrm{mod}t_0\right)`$, where

$$t_1=\frac{\mathrm{log}(\lambda )}{\lambda \lambda ^1}=\frac{\mathrm{log}\left((f(A)\pm (f(A)^24)^{1/2})/2\right)}{\left(f(A)^22\right)^{1/2}}.$$

(The two choices for $`(f(A)^24)^{1/2}`$ differ by sign but determine equal values for $`t_1`$.) In that case the embedding (2.10) is equivariant with respect to the actions generated by multiplication by

$$\lambda =\frac{(f(A)\pm (f(A)^24)^{1/2})}{2}$$

on $`^{}`$ and by $`(\tau _A)_{}`$ on $`X`$.

#### 2.6.3. Fenchel-Nielsen twist flows for $`G=\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$

Since the complex trace form $`𝔹`$ on $`𝔰𝔩(2,)`$ restricts to the trace form on $`𝔰𝔩(2,)`$, the complex-symplectic structure $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ on $`X`$ restricts to the symplectic structure on $`𝔗(M)`$ defined by the trace form of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. By  this symplectic structure equals (-2) the Weil-Petersson Kähler form.

Inside the complex twist flows are the Fenchel-Nielsen twist flows when the holonomy is hyperbolic. Suppose that $`\varphi \mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ is a discrete embedding (that is, a Fuchsian representation). The subset of $`X`$ consisting of equivalence classes of Fuchsian representations corresponds bijectively to the space of marked hyperbolic structures on $`M`$, that is, the Teichmüller space $`𝔗(M)`$. In that case, for every $`𝕀\alpha \pi `$, the element $`\varphi (\alpha )\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ is hyperbolic. Geometrically it is a transvection along a geodesic $`\gamma `$, and is conjugate to a diagonal matrix

$$P=\pm \left[\begin{array}{cc}e^{l/2}& 0\\ 0& e^{l/2}\end{array}\right].$$

$`l`$ is the distance $`\varphi (\alpha )`$ moves points along $`\gamma `$. In the hyperbolic structure on $`M`$, the element $`\alpha `$ corresponds to a homotopy class of closed loops; $`\gamma `$ corresponds to the unique closed geodesic $`A`$ freely homotopic to a free loop in $`\alpha `$ and $`l`$ is the length of this geodesic.

The character function is related to the length function by:

$$f=2\mathrm{cosh}(l/2).$$

Thus the invariant function $`l`$ (which is only defined on the subset of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ consisting of hyperbolic elements) defines functions

$$l_\alpha :𝔗(M)_+.$$

As in , the corresponding variation is

$$L(P)=\pm \left[\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right].$$

with corresponding one-parameter subgroup

$$\zeta _t=\left[\begin{array}{cc}e^t& 0\\ 0& e^t\end{array}\right],$$

the one-parameter subgroup of transvections moving at speed $`2`$ along the geodesic.

The inner product of these infinitesimal transvections can be computed as follows. The matrices

$$L_1=\left[\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ 1& 0\end{array}\right],L_2=\left[\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{sin}(\psi )& \mathrm{cos}(\psi )\\ \mathrm{cos}(\psi )& \mathrm{sin}(\psi )\end{array}\right]$$

represent infinitesimal transvections about axes which intersect with angle $`\psi `$ and

$$𝔹(L_1,L_2)=\mathrm{𝗍𝗋}(L_1L_2)=2\mathrm{cos}(\psi ).$$

Thus (as in §3.9 of ), Wolpert’s cosine formula 2.6.2, follows from Proposition 2.2.2.

If $`\alpha `$ corresponds to a simple closed curve $`A`$, then the corresponding twist flow $`\eta _t^\alpha `$ corresponds to the Fenchel-Nielsen twist flow on $`𝔗(M)`$ defined geometrically as follows. (Compare Abikoff , Buser  and Harvey .) Represent $`A`$ by the (necessarily simple) closed geodesic. Split $`M`$ along $`A`$, and identify the boundary components $`A_+,A_{}`$ of $`M|A`$ by a translation of length $`t`$ in the positively oriented direction. This is a well-defined path of marked hyperbolic structures in $`𝔗(M)`$; see Wolpert  for details. In , Wolpert proves that the Fenchel-Nielsen twist flow is Hamiltonian with respect to the Weil-Petersson Kähler form on $`𝔗(M)`$, with Hamiltonian potential the length function $`l_\alpha `$ .

The Fenchel-Nielsen twist flow $`\eta ^\alpha `$ and the twist flow $`\xi ^\alpha `$ are reparametrizations of one another. Specifically,

$$\xi _t^\alpha =\eta _{\mathrm{sinh}(l_\alpha )}^\alpha .$$

As in  (see also ), the Weil-Petersson Kähler form equals $`1/2`$ the symplectic structure defined by the trace form $`𝔹`$ restricted to $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$, implying the Fenchel-Nielsen flow is Hamiltonian. Since the Fenchel-Nielsen twist flow is Hamiltonian for the length function $`l_\alpha `$, the derivative of the length function along the twist vector field equals the Poisson bracket $`\{l_\alpha ,l_\beta \}`$, which can be computed by Proposition 2.2.2. We thus obtain Wolpert’s Derivative Formula:

###### Theorem 2.6.2 ((Wolpert ).

Let $`\alpha ,\beta \pi `$ where $`\alpha `$ is represented by a simple closed curve. Then the derivative of the length function $`l_\beta `$ with respect to the Fenchel-Nielsen twist flow equals the sum

$$\underset{i=1}{\overset{k}{}}\mathrm{cos}(\theta _i)$$

where $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are represented by closed geodesics, $`p_1,\mathrm{},p_k`$ are their intersection points, and $`\theta _i`$ is the angle from $`\alpha `$ to $`\beta `$ at $`p_i`$.

In particular the action of the Dehn twist $`\tau _A`$ equals the time-$`t`$ map of the Fenchel-Nielsen twist flow at time $`t=l/2`$.

## 3. Abelian Hamiltonian Actions

The classical Fenchel-Nielsen coordinates on $`𝔗(M)`$ can be interpreted as a moment map arising from a pants decomposition, that is, a maximal collection of disjoint simple closed curves $`𝒫=\{\alpha _1,\mathrm{},\alpha _N\}`$ on $`M`$ which are each homotopically nontrivial and mutually nonhomotopic. If $`M`$ has genus $`g`$, then $`N=3g3`$ and the length functions define a map

$$l_𝒫=(l_{\alpha _1},\mathrm{},l_{\alpha _N}):𝔗(M)(_+)^N$$

which is the moment map for a Hamiltonian $`^N`$-action. This $`^N`$-action is proper and free, and choosing a cross-section (a left-inverse to $`l_𝒫`$)

$$\sigma :(_+)^N𝔗(M)$$

defines a diffeomorphism

(3.1) $`(_+)^N\times ^N`$ $`𝔗(M)`$
$`(\lambda ,t)`$ $`\eta _{t_1}^{\alpha _1}\mathrm{}\eta _{t_N}^{\alpha _N}\left(\sigma (\lambda )\right)`$
The map $`l_𝒫`$ defines the action variables $`\lambda `$ while the coordinates $`t^N`$ are the angle variables. Indeed, Wolpert shows  that this completely integrable system defines a symplectomorphism with $`(_+)^N\times ^N`$: the Fenchel-Nielsen coordinates are Darboux coordinates with respect to the symplectic structure $`\omega _{WP}`$ defined by the Weil-Petersson Kähler form:

$$\omega _{WP}=\underset{i=1}{\overset{N}{}}d\lambda _idt_i$$

This section extends this theory from $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ to $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$.

### 3.1. Pants decompositions

By Corollary 2.2.3, the complex Hamiltonian vector fields of $`f_\alpha `$ and $`f_\beta `$ Poisson commute if $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are represented by disjoint curves. Thus for a family of disjoint simple closed curves

$$𝒫=\{A_1,\mathrm{},A_N\}$$

the corresponding complex twist flows of $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}f_{\alpha _i}`$ generate a $`^n`$-action. Suppose these curves are each homotopically nontrivial and mutually nonhomotopic. The resulting map

$$\tau _𝒫:X^N$$

is a moment map for a complex-Hamiltonian action of $`^N`$ on the complex-symplectic manifold $`X`$.

Suppose that $`𝒫`$ is maximal, that is $`N=3g3`$, in which case each component

$$PM|(_{i=1}^NA_i)$$

is homeomorphic to a 3-holed sphere. In that case Fricke’s theorem  implies that the generic inverse image $`(\tau _𝒫)^1(z)`$ is a single $`^N`$-orbit. Specifically, let $`(C^N)^s`$ denote the subset consisting of $`z^N`$ such that, for every $`(i,j,k)`$ for which $`\alpha _i,\alpha _j,\alpha _k`$ bound a 3-holed sphere $`P_{ijk}`$,

$$z_{\alpha _i}^2+z_{\alpha _j}^2+z_{\alpha _k}^2z_{\alpha _i}z_{\alpha _j}z_{\alpha _k}4.$$

This expresses the condition that the restriction $`\varphi |_{\pi _1(P_{ijk})}`$ is irreducible; Fricke’s theorem asserts the triple

$$(f(\varphi (\alpha _i),f(\varphi (\alpha _j),f(\varphi (\alpha _k))^3$$

determines the equivalence class of such an irreducible representation. If $`z(^N)^s`$, the fiber $`(\tau _𝒫)^1(z)`$ is a single $`^N`$-orbit.

The subgroup $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫`$ of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ preserving the pants decomposition is the free abelian group generated by the Dehn twists $`\tau _{\alpha _i}`$ for $`i=1,\mathrm{},N`$. The resulting $`^n`$-action lies in the $`^N`$-action by the formulas in §2.6. Namely, at a point $`[\varphi ]X`$ the orbit is an embedded product

$$\underset{i=1}{\overset{N}{}}G_i$$

where

$$G_i=\{\begin{array}{cc}\{1\}\hfill & \text{if }\alpha _i([\varphi ])=\pm 𝕀\hfill \\ \hfill & \text{if }f_{\alpha _i}([\varphi ])=\pm 2\text{ and }\alpha _i([\varphi ])\pm 𝕀\hfill \\ ^{}\hfill & \text{if }f_{\alpha _i}([\varphi ])\pm 2\hfill \end{array}.$$

For each $`i`$ with with $`f_{\alpha _i}(\varphi )2`$, let

$$\lambda _i=\frac{f_{\alpha _i}(\varphi )\pm (f_{\alpha _i}(\varphi )^24)^{1/2})}{2}.$$

Then $`(k_1,\mathrm{},k_N)^N`$ acts by translation by $`k_i`$ on the $`i`$-th factor $`G_i`$ for each $`i`$ with $`f_{\alpha _i}(\varphi )=\pm 2`$ and by multiplication by $`\lambda _i`$ on each factor $`G_i^{}`$ with $`f_{\alpha _i}(\varphi )\pm 2`$.

### 3.2. The moment map as an ergodic decomposition and its holomorphic extension

The action of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫`$ on $`X_U`$ is discussed in . In this case the restriction

$$f_𝒫:X_U[2,2]^N$$

is a moment map for a Hamiltonian $`^n`$-action whose orbits are all closed. These orbits are tori, invariant under the $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫^N`$-action. Almost every fiber has dimension $`N`$, and the action is equivalent to an $`^N`$-action on $`T^N`$ by translation. For almost all level sets, this action is ergodic. It follows that the moment map $`f_𝒫`$ for the Hamiltonian $`^N`$-action is also the ergodic decomposition for the $`^N`$-action (, Theorem 2.2):

###### Proposition 3.2.1.

Let $`h:X_U`$ be a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫`$-invariant measurable function. Then there exists a measurable function $`\psi :[2,2]^N`$ such that $`h=\psi f_𝒫`$ almost everywhere.

###### Theorem 3.2.2.

Let $`h:X^1`$ be a meromorphic function which is invariant under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_𝒫`$. Then there exists a meromorphic function $`H:^𝒫^1`$ such that $`h=H\tau _𝒫`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`G`$ denote the complex-Hamiltonian $`^𝒫`$-action on $`X`$ and let $`G_U`$ denote the Hamiltonian $`^𝒫`$-action on $`X_U`$. By Proposition 3.2.1, the measurable function $`h`$ must be almost everywhere constant on the $`G_U`$-orbits on $`X_U`$. Thus for each $`t\tau _𝒫(X_U)`$, the function $`h`$ is constant on the preimage $`\tau _𝒫^1(t)X_U`$ and:

* The preimages of the restriction of $`\tau _𝒫`$ to $`X_U`$ are the $`G_U`$-orbits in $`X_U`$;
* Each $`G_U`$-orbit in $`\tau _𝒫^1(t)`$ is $``$-Zariski dense in its $`G`$-orbit;
* $`G`$ acts transitively on $`\tau _𝒫^1(t)`$.

Hence $`h`$ is constant on each $`\tau _𝒫^1(t)`$. for $`t\tau _𝒫(X_U)`$.

Now we find a holomorphic section of $`\tau _𝒫`$. There exists a connected open neighborhood $`W`$ of $`X_U`$, a Zariski-closed subset $`ZX`$ of positive codimension, and a holomorphic map

$$WZ\stackrel{\sigma }{}\tau _pp^1(WZ)$$

so that the composition

$$WZ\stackrel{\sigma }{}\tau _pp^1(WZ)\stackrel{\tau _𝒫}{}WZ$$

equals the identity. Then the meromorphic function

$$hh\sigma \tau _𝒫$$

on $`\tau _pp^1(WZ)`$ vanishes on each fiber $`\tau _pp^1(t)`$ for $`tWZX_U`$. Since $`WZX_U`$ is totally real, it follows that $`hh\sigma \tau _𝒫`$ vanishes on all of $`WZ`$. Since $`WZ`$ is dense in $`W`$, this function vanishes on $`W`$. Since $`W`$ is nonempty and open, this function vanishes on all of $`X`$. Thus $`h`$ is constant on the fibers of $`\tau _𝒫`$ as desired. ∎

## 4. Deformation spaces of $`^1`$-structures

A $`^1`$-structure on $`M`$ is a geometric structure with local coordinate charts mapping to $`^1`$ with coordinate changes in the group $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. The holonomy mapping $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}`$ maps the deformation space $`^1(M)`$ locally biholomorphically to the character variety $`XX_U`$. Therefore $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ induces a complex-symplectic structure $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}^{}\mathrm{\Omega }`$ on $`^1(M)`$. On the other hand, $`^1(M)`$ is classically the total space of an affine bundle over $`𝔗(M)`$ whose associated vector bundle is the cotangent bundle $`T^{}𝔗(M)`$. The canonical exact complex-symplectic structure on $`T^{}𝔗(M)`$ defines a complex-symplectic structure on $`^1(M)`$. Kawai  has proved this complex-symplectic structure equals $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}^{}\mathrm{\Omega }`$:

###### Theorem.

(Kawai) The complex-symplectic structure on $`^1(M)`$ induced from the holomorphic cotangent bundle structure on $`T^{}𝔗(M)`$ equals the complex-symplectic structure induced from the complex-symplectic structure $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ on $`X`$ by

$$^1(M)\stackrel{\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}}{}\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,).$$

The complex twist flows on $`X`$ lift to complex twist flows on $`^1(M)`$. We relate the complex twist geometry on the open subset $`𝒬(M)^1(M)`$ comprising quasi-Fuchsian structures to the quakebends studied by Epstein-Marden , Kourouniotis , McMullen , Platis , Series , and Tanigawa .

### 4.1. $`^1`$-structures

Let $`M`$ be a smooth surface. A $`^1`$-atlas on $`M`$ consists of

* An open covering $`𝒰`$ of $`M`$ by coordinate patches;
* For each coordinate patch $`U𝒰`$, a coordinate chart

$$\psi _U:U^1$$

which is a diffeomorphism of $`U`$ onto its image $`\psi _U(U)`$;
* For each connected open subset $`CUV`$ of the intersection of coordinate patches $`U,V𝒰`$, a transformation $`g_C\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ such that

$$g_C\psi _U|_{UV}=\psi _V|_{UV}.$$

The coordinate change $`g_C`$ is unique.

Such atlases are partially ordered by inclusion. A $`^1`$-structure on $`M`$ is a maximal $`^1`$-atlas. A $`^1`$-manifold is a manifold with a $`^1`$-structure.

Suppose $`M`$ and $`M^{}`$ are $`^1`$-manifolds. A mapping $`\varphi :MM^{}`$ is a $`^1`$-mapping if and only if for each coordinate chart $`(U,\psi _U)`$ in $`M`$ and each coordinate chart $`(U^{},\psi _U^{}^{})`$ in $`M^{}`$ the composition

$$(\psi _U^{}^{})\varphi (\psi _U)^1:\psi _U\left(U\varphi ^1(U^{})\right)\psi _U^{}^{}\left(\varphi (U)U^{}\right)$$

extends to an element of $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ on each component of $`\psi _U(U\varphi ^1(U^{})`$. A $`^1`$-mapping is necessarily a local diffeomorphism.

If $`f:MM^{}`$ is a local diffeomorphism, then every $`^1`$-structure on $`M^{}`$ determines a unique $`^1`$-structure on $`M`$ such that $`f`$ is a $`^1`$-mapping. In particular every covering space of a $`^1`$-manifold is a $`^1`$-manifold, and its group of covering transformations is realized by a group of $`^1`$-automorphisms.

If $`M`$ is a simply-connected $`^1`$-manifold, then any chart on $`M`$ extends to a globally defined developing map

$$\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏}:M^1$$

which is a $`^1`$-mapping. This mapping is unique up to left-composition with transformations in $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$.

We denote by $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ the Riemann surface whose underlying manifold is $`M`$ for which $`\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏}`$ is holomorphic.

In general the universal covering space $`\stackrel{~}{M}`$ of a $`^1`$-manifold admits a developing map into $`^1`$. The group $`\pi _1(M)`$ of covering transformations of $`\stackrel{~}{M}M`$ admits a representation $`\rho :\pi _1(M)\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ such that the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}\stackrel{~}{M}& \stackrel{\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏}}{}& ^1\\ \gamma & & \rho \left(\gamma \right)& & \\ \stackrel{~}{M}& \stackrel{\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏}}{}& ^1\end{array}$$

commutes for every $`\gamma \pi _1(M)`$. The representation $`\rho `$ is called the holonomy representation. The developing pair $`(\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏},\rho )`$ is unique up to the action of $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ (by left-composition with $`\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏}`$ and conjugation on $`\rho `$). The developing map globalizes the coordinate charts and the holonomy representation globalizes the coordinate changes.

#### 4.1.1. Deformation spaces

Let $`S`$ be a fixed topogical surface with fundamental group $`\pi =\pi (S)`$. A marked $`^1`$-structure  on $`S`$ consists of a $`^1`$-manifold $`M`$ and a homeomorphism $`f_M:SM`$. Two marked $`^1`$-structures $`(M,f_M)`$ and $`(M^{},f_M^{})`$ are equivalent if and only if there exists a $`^1`$-isomorphism $`\varphi :MM^{}`$ such that

$$\varphi f_Mf_M^{}.$$

Let $`^1(S)`$ denote the set of equivalence classes of marked $`^1`$-structures on $`S`$. Holonomy defines a mapping

$$\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}:^1(S)\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))//\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,).$$

As in  (see also Earle , Hubbard  and Kapovich ), there is a natural topology on $`^1(S)`$ such that $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}`$ is a local homeomorphism. Furthermore Gallo-Kapovich-Marden  proved that the image of $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}`$ is $`XX_UX_D`$, where $`X_DXX_U`$ is the closed subset consisting of equivalence classes $`[\varphi ]`$ of representations leaving invariant a pair of points of $`^1`$ (these correspond to irreducible representations for which an index-two subgroup acts reducibly).

### 4.2. Holonomy and the conformal structure

Since $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ acts holomorphically on $`^1`$, a $`^1`$-atlas on $`M`$ is a holomorphic atlas, that is, an atlas for a complex structure on $`M`$. Thus underlying every $`^1`$-manifold is a Riemann surface. Recording the complex structure underlying a $`^1`$-structure is a map

$$^1(S)\stackrel{\mathrm{\Pi }}{}𝔗(M).$$

A projective structure on a Riemann surface $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ is a $`^1`$-structure whose underlying complex structure is $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$.

###### Lemma 4.2.1.

$`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ is holomorphic.

###### Proof.

We recall the classical description of $`^1(S)`$ as an affine bundle $`𝒬(M)`$ over $`𝔗(M)`$ whose associated vector bundle equals the cotangent bundle $`T^{}(𝔗(M))`$. (See for example §2.3 of Earle , Hubbard  or Gunning ). Fix a Riemann surface $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ homeomorphic to $`M`$ and a projective structure $`s_0`$ on $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$. Given any other projective structure on $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$, its developing map is a holomorphic map from the universal covering $`\stackrel{~}{\mathrm{\Sigma }}`$ to $`^1`$. Its Schwarzian derivative (in the local projective coordinates defined by $`s_0`$) is a holomorphic quadratic differential which is invariant under $`\pi `$, and therefore defines a holomorphic quadratic differential on $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$. Furthermore this quadratic differential completely determines the developing map up to an element of $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ of $`^1`$. Thus the fiber $`\mathrm{\Pi }^1([\mathrm{\Sigma }])`$ admits a simply transitive action of the complex vector space $`H^0(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝒪(\kappa ^2))`$ comprising holomorphic quadratic differentials on $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$. The composition law for the Schwarzian derivative implies that changing the origin $`s_0`$ effects a translation of $`Q(\mathrm{\Sigma })`$, so $`\mathrm{\Pi }^1(\mathrm{\Sigma })`$ is an affine space modelled on $`H^0(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝒪(\kappa ^2))`$, which is the cotangent space $`T_{[\mathrm{\Sigma }]}^{}𝔗(M)`$ of $`𝔗(M)`$ at $`[\mathrm{\Sigma }]`$.

In particular $`^1(S)`$ inherits a complex structure, making it a holomorphic affine bundle over $`𝔗(M)`$. In particular the projection $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ is holomorphic in this complex structure.

By Lemma 2 of Earle  or Hubbard , the holonomy mapping $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}`$ is a local biholomorphism, and therefore this complex structure on $`^1`$ induced by $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}`$ is the above complex structure. Thus $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ is holomorphic with respect to the complex structure induced by $`\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}`$. ∎

Kawai’s theorem implies that $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ is a holomorphic Lagrangian fibration. As described in Hubbard , the differential $`d\mathrm{\Pi }`$ identifies with the map

$$T_{s_0}^1(S)H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝔰𝔩(2,))H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝒪(\kappa ^1))T_{[\mathrm{\Sigma }]}𝔗(M)$$

induced by the short exact sequence of sheaves

(4.1)
$$0𝔰𝔩(2,)\stackrel{i}{}𝒪(\kappa ^1)\stackrel{D_3}{}𝒪(\kappa ^2)0.$$

Here $`D_3`$ is the map of holomorphic sheaves given in local holomorphic coordinates by

$$h(z)\frac{}{z}h^{}{}_{}{}^{}{}_{}{}^{}(z)dz^2.$$

Its kernel $`𝔰𝔩(2,)`$ is the locally constant sheaf of locally projective vector fields (whose coefficients in affine coordinates are quadratic). The monomorphism $`i`$ regards a locally projective vector field as a holomorphic vector field. Then (4.1) induces the exact sequence

$$0H^0(\mathrm{\Sigma },𝒪(\kappa ^2))\stackrel{𝛿}{}H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝔰𝔩(2,))\stackrel{i_{}}{}H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝒪(\kappa ^1))0.$$

If $`\alpha H^0(\mathrm{\Sigma },𝒪(\kappa ^2))`$ is a holomorphic quadratic differential and $`\beta H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝔰𝔩(2,))`$, then

(4.2)
$$\delta (\alpha ),\beta =\alpha i_{}(\beta )$$

where the first pairing $`,`$ is the pairing on $`H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝔰𝔩(2,))`$ induced by the complex Killing form $`𝔹`$ on $`𝔰𝔩(2,)`$ and the second pairing is the Serre duality pairing

$$H^0(\mathrm{\Sigma },𝒪(\kappa ^2))\times H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma },𝒪(\kappa ^1))H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma },𝒪(\kappa )).$$

This discussion implies that $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ is a Lagrangian fibration. Suppose

$$\beta ,\gamma \mathrm{ker}(d\mathrm{\Pi })=\delta (H^0(\mathrm{\Sigma },𝒪(\kappa ^2))=\mathrm{ker}(i_{})$$

Then $`\gamma =\delta (\alpha )`$ for some $`\alpha H^0(\mathrm{\Sigma },𝒪(\kappa ^2))`$, and (4.2) implies $`\gamma ,\beta =0`$ since $`i_{}\beta =0`$. Therefore $`\mathrm{ker}(d\mathrm{\Pi })`$ is isotropic. Since its dimension is half of that of $`H^1(\mathrm{\Sigma };𝔰𝔩(2,))`$, the fibers of $`\mathrm{\Pi }`$ are Lagrangian. For further details, see Kawai .

#### 4.2.1. Meromorphic functions on $`^1(S)`$

###### Proposition 4.2.2.

There exist nonconstant $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant meromorphic functions on $`^1(S)`$.

###### Proof.

The Riemann moduli space of curves is the quotient $`𝔗(M)/\mathrm{\Gamma }`$, which by Knudsen , is a quasiprojective variety. Thus $`𝔗(M)/\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ admits nonconstant meromorphic functions and $`𝔗(M)`$ admits nonconstant $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant meromorphic functions.

Let $`\psi `$ be a nonconstant $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant meromorphic function on $`𝔗(M)`$. Composing with the projection

$$\mathrm{\Pi }:^1(S)𝔗(M)$$

provides a nonconstant $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant meromorphic function $`\psi \mathrm{\Pi }`$ on $`^1(S)`$. ∎

### 4.3. Quasi-Fuchsian space

A $`^1`$-structure is Fuchsian if and only if a developing map embeds $`\stackrel{~}{M}`$ in a hyperbolic plane $`𝖧_{}^1^1`$. Necessarily the holonomy representation is conjugate to a Fuchsian representation, that is, a discrete embedding $`\pi \mathrm{𝖯𝖴}(1,1)`$ (where $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖴}(1,1)`$ is the stabilizer in $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ of the Poincaré disc $`𝖧_{}^1`$). However by a construction of Maskit and Hejhal (see also Goldman ) there exist $`^1`$-structures with Fuchsian holonomy with surjective developing maps. A quasi-Fuchsian $`^1`$-structure is a $`^1`$-structure topologically conjugate to a Fuchsian structure, that is, there exists a homeomorphism $`h`$ of $`^1`$ such that

$$(h\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏},h\rho h^1)$$

is the developing pair for a Fuchsian structure. The limit set $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ of $`\rho (\pi )`$ is the Jordan curve $`h(𝖧_{}^1)`$. The developing image $`\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏}(\stackrel{~}{M})`$ is one component of the complement $`^1\mathrm{\Lambda }`$.

Quasi-Fuchsian space $`𝒬(M)`$ is the subset of $`^1(S)`$ corresponding to quasi-Fuchsian structures. The holonomy representation $`\rho `$ is a quasi-Fuchsian representation. The holonomy mapping

$$\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}:𝒬(M)X$$

embeds $`𝒬(M)`$ as the open subset of $`X`$ consisting of conjugacy classes of quasi-Fuchsian representations. Quasi-Fuchsian space $`𝒬(M)`$ is both the open subset of $`^1(S)`$ consisting of quasi-Fuchsian structures and the open subset of $`XX_U`$ consisting of characters of quasi-Fuchsian representations.

The conformal structures of the quotients of $`^1\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ by $`\varphi (\pi )`$ determine an ordered pair $`𝔗(M)\times \overline{𝔗}(M)`$; the first parameter is the marked conformal structure underlying the $`^1`$-structure. The simultaneous uniformization theorem of Bers  asserts that the corresponding map

$$𝒬(M)\stackrel{}{}𝔗(M)\times \overline{𝔗}(M)$$

is a biholomorphism. It is evidently $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-equivariant.

Since $`𝒬(M)^1(S)`$, Corollary 4.2.2 implies that nonconstant $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant meromorphic functions exist on $`𝒬(M)`$.

### 4.4. Twist flows of $`^1`$-structures and grafting

Let $`\alpha \pi `$. Then the composition

$$^1(S)\stackrel{\mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅}}{}X\stackrel{f_\alpha }{}$$

defines a holomorphic function on $`^1(S)`$ and its complex-Hamiltonian $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha \mathrm{𝗁𝗈𝗅})`$ is a holomorphic vector field on $`^1(S)`$. If $`\alpha `$ corresponds to a simple closed curve $`A`$, then there is a complex twist flow $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }_t^\alpha `$ on $`^1`$ covering the complex twist flow generated by the vector field $`\mathrm{𝖧𝖺𝗆}(f_\alpha )`$ on $`X`$.

This twist flow is defined geometrically on Fuchsian structures as follows (see , Kourouniotis ). Let $`s_0`$ be a Fuchsian $`^1`$-structure, so a developing map embeds $`\stackrel{~}{M}`$ as a geometric disc $`\mathrm{\Delta }^1`$. Then the simple closed curve $`AM`$ can be represented by a simple closed geodesic with respect the Poincaré metric induced from that of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$. Let $`\mathrm{}(A)`$ denote the Poincaré length of this geodesic. A lift $`\stackrel{~}{A}`$ of $`A`$ to $`\stackrel{~}{M}`$ develops to a circular arc orthogonal to $`\mathrm{𝖽𝖾𝗏}(\stackrel{~}{M})`$. The split surface $`M|A`$ inherits a $`^1`$-structure whose boundary components develop to circular arcs. To define $`s_t:=\stackrel{~}{\xi ^\alpha }_t(s_0)`$, insert an annulus $`A_\theta `$ with $`^1`$-structure into $`M|A`$. The angular parameter $`\theta `$ is the imaginary part $`\mathrm{𝖨𝗆}(t)`$. The annulus is a $`\theta `$-annulus in the sense of §2.12 of . Choose a holomorphic universal covering map

$$E:^1\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}\left(\varphi (\alpha )\right)$$

which is periodic with period $`2\pi i`$. (When $`\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi (\alpha ))=\{0,\mathrm{}\}`$, then this is just the exponential map $`\mathrm{exp}:^{}`$. For general $`A`$, we compose $`\mathrm{exp}`$ with a projective transformation taking $`\{0,\mathrm{}\}`$ to $`\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi (\alpha ))`$.)

Define the $`\theta `$-strip

$$S_\theta :=+i[0,\theta ]$$

with $`^1`$-structure induced by $`E`$. The developing map $`E`$ for $`S_\theta `$ is equivariant with respect to the $``$-action on $`S_\theta `$ generated by translation by $`\mathrm{}(A)`$ and the $``$-action on $`^1\mathrm{𝖥𝗂𝗑}(\varphi (\alpha ))`$. The $`\theta `$-annulus $`A_\theta `$ is defined as the quotient $`^1`$-manifold of $`S_\theta `$.

The grafted manifold $`M(t)`$ is obtained by inserting a $`\theta `$-annulus into $`M|A`$. Choose one component of $`A_{}(M|A)`$ and attach $`A_\theta `$ to $`A_{}`$ to obtain a $`^1`$-manifold homeomorphic to $`M|A`$ with one boundary component $`A_+^{}`$ corresponding to the component $`A_+`$ of $`(M|A)`$ and another boundary component $`A^{}`$ corresponding to the other component of $`(A_\theta )`$. Identify $`A_+^{}`$ to $`A^{}`$ by a transvection of displacement $`\mathrm{𝖱𝖾}(t)`$.

When $`\theta =0`$, this is just the Fenchel-Nielsen twist deformation, obtained from $`M|A`$ by identifying the two components of $`(M|A)`$ by a transvection of displacement $`\mathrm{𝖱𝖾}(t)`$.

Let $`P\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$. These holomorphic flows on $`\mathrm{𝖧𝗈𝗆}(\pi ,\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,))`$ cover holomorphic flows on $`X`$ which have been extensively studied on quasi-Fuchsian space $`𝒬(M)X.`$ On $`𝒬(M)`$ these flows geometrically correpond to the quakebends or complex earthquakes discussed by Epstein-Marden , Kourouniotis , McMullen , Platis , Series , and Tanigawa . In particular we obtain the following result of Platis :

###### Theorem 4.4.1 ((Platis , Theorem 7, §2.2).

The complex twist vector field $`\stackrel{~}{\xi }`$ on $`𝒬(M)`$ is Hamiltonian with respect to the complex length function $`l^{}`$.

Just as the geodesic length function $`l`$ on the hyperbolic subset of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ and the angle function $`\theta `$ on $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖴}(2)\{\pm 𝕀\}`$ are more geometrically natural than the trace functions, we consider the complex length “function” on $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ defined by:

$$2\mathrm{cosh}\left(\frac{l^{}(P)}{2}\right)=f(P)$$

or equivalently

$$l^{}(P)=2\mathrm{log}\left(\frac{\left(f(P)\pm (f(P)^24)^{1/2}\right)}{2}\right).$$

(This differs from Tan  whose complex length is half of ours. Our definition is consistent with Kourouniotis , Platis  and Series .) This function takes values in $`(/4\pi i)/\{\pm 1\}`$, since the logarithm is well-defined only modulo $`4\pi i`$ and the choice of square root introduces an ambiguity of sign.

Choose the branch $`\stackrel{~}{l}_{}`$ of the complex length which is positive on the subset of hyperbolic elements in $`\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$; since $`𝒬(M)`$ is simply connected

$$[\varphi ](\stackrel{~}{l}^{}(\varphi (\alpha _1)),\mathrm{},\stackrel{~}{l}^{}(\varphi (\alpha _N)))$$

defines a single-valued function

$$l^{}|_𝒫:𝒬(M)^N.$$

The restriction of $`l_𝒫^{}`$ to $`𝔗(M)`$ is the length function $`l_𝒫:𝔗(M)(_+)^N`$ defined by (3.1). The fibers of $`l^{}|_𝒫`$ are orbits of the complex-Hamiltonian $`^N`$-action having $`l^{}|_𝒫`$ as moment map. Tan  and Kourouniotis  show that there exists a section $`\sigma :^N𝒬(M)`$ and a neighborhood of $`(_+)^N\times \{0\}`$ in $`^N\times ^N`$ which maps biholomorphically to $`𝒬(M)`$.

Korouniotis  and Series  derive formulas for the derivative of the complex length functions along quakebend flows. We briefly sketch how their formulas can be derived from Proposition 2.2.2 as a Poisson bracket, referring to  for details.

Let $`P\mathrm{𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ be loxodromic with invariant axis $`a_P`$. Then the variation function $`L^{}`$ associated to the invariant function $`l^{}`$ and the complex-orthogonal structure $`𝔹(X,Y)=\mathrm{𝗍𝗋}(XY)`$ maps a diagonal matrix to

$$D_0:=\pm \left[\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right]$$

(which is not uniquely defined without restrictions to make the function $`l^{}`$ single-valued). By (2.1), the element of $`\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ corresponding to $`L^{}(P)`$ is the involution fixing $`a_P`$. If $`P_1,P_2\mathrm{𝖯𝖲𝖫}(2,)`$ are loxodromic, with complex distance $`z`$ between their invariant axes, then a simple calculation implies that $`𝔹(L^{}(P_1),L^{}(P_2))`$ equals $`\mathrm{cosh}(z)`$. Applying Proposition 2.2.2 to the complex length functions $`l_\beta ^{}`$ and $`l_\alpha ^{}`$, where $`\alpha `$ corresponds to a simple closed curve, we obtain the following extension of Theorem 2.6.2:

###### Theorem 4.4.2 ((Korouniotis , Series ).

Let $`\alpha ,\beta \pi `$ where $`\alpha `$ is represented by a simple closed curve $`A`$. Then the derivative of the complex length function $`l_\beta ^C`$ on $`𝒬(M)`$ with respect to the quakebend flow with respect to $`A`$ equals the sum

$$\underset{i=1}{\overset{k}{}}\mathrm{cosh}(d_i)$$

where $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are represented by closed geodesics, $`p_1,\mathrm{},p_k`$ are their intersection points, and $`d_i`$ the complex distance between the axes of $`\varphi _i(\alpha _i)`$ to $`\varphi _i(\beta _i)`$ at $`p_i`$, where $`\varphi _i`$ is a representative homomorphism from $`\pi _1(M;p_i)`$ and $`\alpha _i,\beta _i`$ are elements of $`\pi _1(M;p_i)`$ representing $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$.

See Korouniotis  and Series  for details.

Tan  and Kourouniotis  extend Fenchel-Nielsen coordinates to complex Fenchel-Nielsen coordinates on $`𝒬(M)`$. (See also Series  for another exposition.)