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# 1 Preliminaries and review

## 1  Preliminaries and review

Let $`C`$ be a smooth complex projective curve of genus $`g`$, and let $`pC`$ be a distinguished point. For $`n0`$, denote by $`K(n)`$ the line bundle $`K𝒪(np)`$, where $`K`$ is the canonical bundle. A Higgs bundle with values in $`K(n)`$ is a pair $`(E,\varphi )`$ consisting of a holomorphic vector bundle $`E`$ over $`C`$ and a Higgs field $`\varphi H^0(\text{End}EK(n))`$. It is stable if for all proper subbundles $`FE`$ such that $`\varphi (F)FK(n)`$, $`\mathrm{deg}F/\text{rk}F<\mathrm{deg}E/\text{rk}E`$.

The existing results we shall need to recall are few and, except for the authors’ result stated as (1) below, have been known for some time. They can be summarized as follows.

First, there are some elementary facts about stable Higgs bundles \[14, 4.2,4.3\].

(1.1) If $`X`$ parametrizes two families $`(𝐄,𝚽)`$ and $`(𝐄^{},𝚽^{})`$ of stable Higgs bundles, and $`(𝐄_x^{},𝚽_x^{})(𝐄_x^{},𝚽_x^{})`$ for all $`xX`$, then $`𝐄^{}=𝐄L`$ for some line bundle $`L`$ over $`X`$, and $`𝚽^{}=𝚽`$. Moreover, if an action of $`^\times `$ on $`X`$ lifts to $`𝐄`$ and $`𝐄^{}`$ preserving the Higgs fields, then it lifts to $`L`$ also so that $`𝐄^{}=𝐄L`$ equivariantly.

Next, there is a moduli space, constructed by Simpson  and Nitsure .

(1.2) There exists a moduli space $`_n`$ of stable Higgs bundles of rank 2 and degree 1 with values in $`K(n)`$, which is a smooth quasi-projective variety. It admits a universal family $`(𝐄,𝚽)`$, and the $`^\times `$-action on $`_n`$ given by $`\lambda (E\varphi )=(E,\lambda \varphi )`$ lifts to this family.

The following alternative interpretation of $`_0`$, due to Corlette , Donaldson , Hitchin , and Simpson , will only be used in §10.

(1.3) For $`n=0`$, the moduli space $`_0`$ is diffeomorphic to the moduli space $``$ of $`\mathrm{GL}(2,)`$-connections of constant central curvature $`i\omega I`$, where $`\omega `$ is a volume form on $`C`$. That is, $`_0\mu ^1(I)/\mathrm{GL}(2,)`$, where $`\mu :\mathrm{GL}(2,)^{2g}\mathrm{GL}(2,)`$ is given by $`\mu (A_j,B_j)=_{j=1}^gA_j^{}B_j^{}A_j^1B_j^1`$, and $`\mathrm{GL}(2,)`$ acts on $`\mu ^1(I)`$ by simultaneous conjugation. The natural determinant maps and universal families coincide under this diffeomorphism.

Let $`\mathrm{\Xi }`$ be a fixed holomorphic line bundle over $`C`$ of degree 1, and let $`_n_n`$ be the subspace consisting of those $`(E,\varphi )_n`$ such that $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^2E\mathrm{\Xi }`$ and $`\text{tr}\varphi =0`$. In the case $`n=0`$, this is the moduli space studied by Hitchin . The discussion so far, and the previous paper of the authors , refer to $`_n`$, but the remainder of this paper will actually work with $`_n`$. This gives equivalent information for the following reason. The group $`\mathrm{\Sigma }=_2^{2g}\text{Jac}C`$ of line bundles with structure group $`_2`$ acts on $`_n`$ by tensor product, and indeed $`_n=(_n\times T^{}\text{Jac}C)/\mathrm{\Sigma }`$. As seen in §1 of our previous paper , $`H^{}(_n)=H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }H^{}(\text{Jac}C)`$ as rings. To describe $`H^{}(_n)`$, therefore, it suffices to describe $`H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }`$. This will be the purpose of the paper. The part of $`H^{}(_n)`$ not invariant under $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ is ignored here, but it is completely described in a forthcoming work .

The main result of our paper on the generators  is the following.

(1.4) The rational cohomology ring $`H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ is generated by the universal classes, that is, the Künneth components $`\alpha _2`$, $`\beta _2`$, and $`\psi _{2,j}`$ of $`\overline{c}_2(𝐄)=\frac{1}{4}c_2(\text{End}𝐄)`$.

This result has been extended to higher rank Higgs bundles by Markman .

Following the conventions established by Newstead , we will let $`\alpha =\frac{1}{2}\alpha _2`$, $`\beta =\frac{1}{4}\beta _2`$, and $`\psi _j=\psi _{2,j}`$ for $`j=1,\mathrm{},2g`$, so that

$$c_2(\text{End}𝐄)=2\alpha \sigma \beta +4\underset{j=1}{\overset{g}{}}\psi _je_j,$$
(1.5)
where $`e_1,\mathrm{}e_{2g}`$ is the usual basis for $`H^1(C)`$, and $`\sigma H^2(C)`$ is the positive generator.

## 2  Statement of the main result

Our task, then, is to give a complete set of relations between the generators $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\psi _1,\mathrm{},\psi _{2g}`$. To do so, we must first say a little about the action of the symplectic group on $`H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }`$.

The group of orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms of $`C`$ acts on $`H^{}(C)`$ by automorphisms, so it has the automorphism group of $`H^{}(C)`$, namely $`\mathrm{\Gamma }=\mathrm{Sp}(2g,)`$, as a quotient \[19, p. 178\].

(2.1) There is a natural action of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ on $`H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ which fixes $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ but acts on the $`\psi _j`$ as the standard representation.

Proof. In the case of $`_0`$, this follows immediately from (1), but to extend it to $`_n`$ we describe another argument.

Let $`f:CC`$ be any orientation-preserving diffeomorphism. The complex structure typically is not preserved by $`f`$, so pulling it back induces a new complex structure $`C^{}`$ on the same underlying surface. Since Teichmüller space, or the moduli space of curves, is connected, there is a path connecting $`C`$ to $`C^{}`$. The construction of the moduli space $`_n`$, and of the universal pair $`(𝐄,𝚽)`$, can be carried out simultaneously over all the Riemann surfaces in this path. Hence by homotopy invariance there is a topological isomorphism $`𝐄𝐄^{}`$, where $`(𝐄^{},𝚽^{})`$ is a universal pair on $`C^{}`$. The homotopy class of the isomorphism depends only on the isotopy class of $`f`$.

On the other hand, if $`\widehat{f}:_n^{}_n`$ is the map of moduli spaces induced by $`f:C^{}C`$, then $`(\widehat{f}\times f)^{}(𝐄,𝚽)`$ is a universal pair over $`C^{}`$, and so by the uniqueness in (1),

$$(\widehat{f}\times f)^{}\text{End}𝐄\text{End}𝐄^{}\text{End}𝐄.$$

Hence $`(\widehat{f}\times f)^{}c_2(\text{End}𝐄)=c_2(\text{End}𝐄)`$, so $`\widehat{f}^{}\alpha =\alpha `$, $`\widehat{f}^{}\beta =\beta `$, and $`(\widehat{f}\times f)^{}_j\psi _je_j=_j\psi _je_j`$. The action of the diffeomorphism group on $`H^3(_n)=\psi _j`$ is therefore dual to its action on $`H^1(C)=e_j`$; this factors through the standard representation of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$, which is self-dual. Moreover, by (1), the action of the diffeomorphism group on all of $`H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ factors through $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

The exterior square of the standard representation of $`\gamma `$ has an invariant element, the symplectic form. So $`\gamma =2_{j=1}^g\psi _j\psi _{j+g}H^6(_n)`$ is a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant element. Since the powers of the symplectic form are the only invariant elements of exterior powers of the standard representation, we deduce the following from (1).

(2.2) The $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant part of $`H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ is generated by $`\alpha H^2`$, $`\beta H^4`$, and $`\gamma H^6`$.

Like the exterior square discussed above, the higher exterior powers of the standard representation of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ are reducible. Indeed, let $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^k(\psi )`$ be the $`k`$th exterior power of the standard representation, with basis $`\psi _1,\mathrm{},\psi _{2g}`$. Define the primitive part $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\psi )`$ to be the kernel of the natural map $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^k\mathrm{\Lambda }^{2g+2k}`$ given by the wedge product with $`\gamma ^{g+1k}`$. The primitive part is complementary to $`\gamma \mathrm{\Lambda }^{k2}\mathrm{\Lambda }^k`$, and is an irreducible representation of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$: this is well-known for $`\mathrm{Sp}(2g,)`$, and so remains true for the Zariski dense subgroup $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$. Being irreducible, it is generated by $`\psi _1\mathrm{}\psi _k`$.

For any $`g,n0`$, let $`I_n^g`$ be the ideal within the polynomial ring $`[\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ]`$ generated by $`\gamma ^{g+1}`$ and the polynomials

$$\rho _{r,s,t}^c=\underset{i=0}{\overset{\mathrm{min}(c,r,s)}{}}(ci)!\frac{\alpha ^{ri}}{(ri)!}\frac{\beta ^{si}}{(si)!}\frac{(2\gamma )^{t+i}}{i!},$$
(2.3)
where $`c=r+3s+2t2g+2n`$, for all $`r,s,t0`$ such that

$$r+3s+3t>3g3+n\text{xxx}\text{ and }\text{xxx}r+2s+2t2g2+n.$$
(2.4)
The following is then the main result of the present paper.

(2.5) As a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-algebra,

$$H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }=\underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\psi )[\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ]/I_{n+k}^{gk}.$$

The theorem enunciated in (1.2) of our previous paper  is the above in the case $`n=0`$. In that case the relation of lowest degree is $`\rho _{1,g1,0}^g=g\alpha \beta ^{g1}+(g1)\beta ^{g2}(2\gamma )`$. When $`n=1`$, there are two relations of lowest degree, one of which is $`\rho _{0,g,0}^{g+1}=(g+1)\beta ^g`$. When $`n2`$, the lowest degree in which a relation appears is $`2(2g2+n)`$. At least for $`sr`$, the relations in this degree have the particularly simple form $`\beta ^{sr}(\alpha \beta +2\gamma )^r`$.

## 3  Equivariant cohomology

Our main tool for studying the ring structure of $`H^{}(_n)`$ is equivariant cohomology, which we briefly review. For a more leisurely exposition see Atiyah-Bott .

If a group — say a Lie group — acts on a topological space $`M`$, the homotopy quotient $`M_G`$ is defined as the associated bundle over the classifying space $`BG`$ with fiber $`M`$:

$$M_G=\frac{M\times EG}{G}.$$

The equivariant cohomology of $`M`$ is defined to be simply the ordinary cohomology of $`M_G`$:

$$H_G^{}(X)=H^{}(X_G).$$

This is a module over $`H^{}(BG)`$. Restricting to any fiber gives a natural map $`H_G^{}(M)H^{}(M)`$. Note also that if $`G`$ acts trivially on $`M`$, then $`H_G^{}(M)=H^{}(M)H^{}(BG)`$.

If the action of $`G`$ lifts to a linear action on a vector bundle $`E`$, then a vector bundle $`E_G`$ over $`M_G`$ can be defined in the obvious way. Thus a vector bundle equipped with such a lifting possesses well-defined equivariant characteristic classes lying in $`H_G^{}(M)`$.

In our case the group acting is $`T=^\times `$, so that $`BT=^{\mathrm{}}`$, and $`H^{}(BT)=[u]`$ where $`u`$ is a class of degree 2. Kirwan  proved the following fundamental results on $`^\times `$-actions.

(3.1) When $`T=^\times `$ acts algebraically on a smooth quasi-projective $`M`$ so that $`lim_{\lambda 0}\lambda x`$ exists for every $`x`$, then

* there is an additive isomorphism

$$H^i(M)\underset{d}{}H^{i+r_d}(F_d),$$

where $`=_dF_d`$ is the decomposition of the fixed-point set into components and $`r_d`$ is the dimension of the subbundle of $`TM|_{F_d}`$ acted on with negative weight by $`T`$;
* the Leray sequence of $`M_TBT`$ degenerates, so that $`H_T^{}(M)H^{}(M)H^{}(BT)`$ additively, and the ring homomorphism $`H_T^{}(M)H^{}(M)`$ is surjective;
* the restriction to the fixed-point set

$$H_T^{}(M)H_T^{}()=H^{}()[u]$$

is an injective ring homomorphism.

Statement (i) is perhaps most familiar in a symplectic context as stating that the moment map is a perfect Bott-Morse function. But statement (iii) is equally crucial for us since it respects the ring structure. Together with (ii), it will tell us that a polynomial in $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\psi _j`$ is a relation on $`_n`$ if and only if it is the value at $`u=0`$ of a polynomial in $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, $`\psi _j`$, and $`u`$ — the equivariant extension of the relation — whose restriction to $`H_G^{}(F_d)=H^{}(F_d)[u]`$ is a relation for each $`d`$.

## 4  Fixed points of the circle action

We will study the action of $`T=^\times `$ on $`_n`$ given simply by $`\lambda (E,\varphi )=(E,\lambda \varphi )`$. By (1) this lifts to the universal bundle, and hence the universal classes extend to equivariant classes, which by abuse of notation, we continue to denote $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\psi _j`$. They are canonical by the uniqueness in (1).

In light of (3), it is vital to determine the fixed-point set for this action. As discussed in (10.5) of our previous paper , this would be somewhat tricky in arbitrary rank. But now that we have restricted attention to rank 2 (and fixed determinant), it is not so hard. The lemma below is proved by Hitchin \[15, 7.1\] for $`_0`$, but his proof generalizes directly to $`_n`$.

(4.1) The components of the fixed-point set $``$ for the $`T`$-action on $`_n`$ are as follows.

* A component $`F_0`$ isomorphic to $`𝒩`$, the moduli space of stable bundles $`E`$ with $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^2E\mathrm{\Xi }`$. It parametrizes Higgs bundles of the form $`(E,0)`$.
* Components $`F_1,\mathrm{},F_{g+\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]}`$ which are fibered products

$$F_d=C_{2g+n12d}\times _{\text{Jac}^{2d}C}\text{Jac}^dC,$$

where the maps $`C_{2g+n12d}\text{Jac}^{2d}C`$ and $`\text{Jac}^dC\text{Jac}^{2d}C`$ are given by $`DK\mathrm{\Xi }(n)(D)`$ and $`LL^2`$ respectively. These parametrize Higgs bundles $`(E,\varphi )`$ of the form $`E=L\mathrm{\Xi }L^1`$, $`\varphi =\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 0\\ s& 0\end{array}\right),`$ where $`s`$ is the section of $`KL^2\mathrm{\Xi }(n)`$ vanishing at $`D`$.

Hitchin went on to compute the cohomology of the fixed components of type (ii) as follows. By the Leray sequence

$$H^{}(F_d)=\underset{i\mathrm{\Sigma }}{}H^{}(C_{2g+n12d},_i),$$
(4.2)
where the right-hand side consists of cohomology with local coefficients, and $`_i`$ runs over the flat line bundles with structure group $`_2`$ pulled back from $`\text{Jac}^{2d}C`$. If $`_i`$ is the trivial bundle this is simply the ordinary cohomology $`H^{}(C_{2g+n12d})`$. Otherwise, $`H^k(C_{2g+n12d},_i)=\mathrm{\Lambda }^kH^1(C,L_i)`$ if $`k=2g+n12d`$, and 0 if not. Here $`L_i`$ runs over the flat line bundles with structure group $`_2`$ pulled back from $`\text{Jac}^1C`$ to $`C`$ by the Abel-Jacobi map. Hitchin shows that for $`L_i`$ non-trivial, $`H^0(C,L_i)=H^2(C,L_i)=0`$, and $`H^1(C,L_i)`$ has dimension $`2g2`$.

The action of $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ on $`_n`$ commutes with the $`T`$-action, and induces the trivial action on $`H^{}(𝒩)`$ since it is generated by universal classes . It acts on the remaining $`F_d`$ as the Galois group of the unbranched cover $`F_dC_{2g+n12d}`$, and the splitting (4.2) is exactly the decomposition of the cohomology into weight spaces.

Consequently, the $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$-invariant part of $`H^{}()`$ is

$$H^{}(𝒩)\underset{d=1}{\overset{g+\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]}{}}H^{}(C_{2g+n12d}).$$

## 5  Symmetric products of a curve

The symmetric products of the curve $`C`$ thus enter into our considerations. So let us review some facts about the cohomology of such a symmetric product. Good references are the paper of Macdonald  or the book of Arbarello et al. .

In $`C_m\times C`$, there is a universal divisor $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ such that $`\mathrm{\Delta }(\{D\}\times C)=D`$. Write its Poincaré dual in terms of Künneth components as

$$m\sigma +\eta +\underset{j=1}{\overset{2g}{}}\xi _je_j,$$

where $`\sigma `$ and $`e_1,\mathrm{},e_{2g}`$ are generators of $`H^2(C)`$ and $`H^1(C)`$ respectively, so that $`\eta H^2(C_m)`$ and $`\xi _1,\mathrm{},\xi _{2g}H^1(C_m)`$. A theorem of Macdonald  asserts that the cohomology ring $`H^{}(C_m)`$ is generated by $`\eta `$ and the $`\xi _j`$. It is convenient to introduce $`\theta _j=\xi _j\xi _{j+g}`$ and $`\theta =_{j=1}^g\theta _jH^2(C)`$.

The group of orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms of $`C`$ acts on $`C_m\times C`$. It preserves $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$, and hence the Künneth components of its Poincaré dual. Hence it leaves $`\eta `$ invariant. Moreover, its action on the linear span of the $`\xi _j`$, which is $`H^1(C_m)`$, is dual to its action on $`H^1(C)`$, and hence factors through the quotient $`\mathrm{\Gamma }=\mathrm{Sp}(2g,)`$. There is therefore a surjective homomorphism of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-algebras $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^{}(\xi )[\eta ]H^{}(C_m)`$. Here $`\mathrm{\Lambda }^{}(\xi )`$ denotes the exterior algebra of the standard $`2g`$-dimensional representation of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$, with basis vectors $`\xi _1,\mathrm{},\xi _{2g}`$.

The class $`\theta `$ represents the symplectic form. So in terms of the primitive parts $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k`$ introduced in §2, the surjective homomorphism above is better expressed as

$$\underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\xi )[\eta ,\theta ]H^{}(C_m).$$

In particular, the $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant part of $`H^{}(C_m)`$ is generated by $`\eta `$ and $`\theta `$.

The following result on $`H^{}(C_m)`$ will be of key importance for us. Note that we use the term total degree to mean half the ordinary degree of a cohomology class.

(5.1) Let $`l`$, $`m`$, $`p`$, and $`q`$ be non-negative integers. If $`mg+ql`$ and $`g+pq<l`$, then

$$(\frac{\eta ^p\mathrm{exp}\theta }{(1+\eta )^q})_l=0$$

in $`H^{}(C_m)`$, where the subscript $`l`$ denotes the part in total degree $`l`$.

Proof. Since the cup product is a homomorphism of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-modules, Poincaré duality holds for the $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant part. It therefore suffices to check that the product of this expression with any monomial in $`\eta `$ and $`\theta `$ evaluates to 0 on the fundamental class of $`C_m`$.

It follows from Macdonald’s results  that any monomial $`\eta ^v_j\xi _j^{w_j}`$ of total degree $`m`$ evaluates on the fundamental class of $`C_m`$ to 1 if $`w_j=w_{j+g}1`$ for each $`jg`$, and 0 otherwise. As pointed out by Zagier , this implies that for any formal power series $`A(x)`$ and $`B(x)`$,

$$A(\eta )\mathrm{exp}(\theta B(\eta ))[C_m]=\underset{\eta =0}{\text{Res}}\frac{A(\eta )(1+\eta B(\eta ))^gd\eta }{\eta ^{m+1}}.$$

We multiply our expression by the generating function $`\mathrm{exp}(s\theta )/(1+t\eta )`$ for the monomials in $`\eta `$ and $`\theta `$, and ask the coefficient of $`s^it^j`$ to vanish whenever $`i+j=ml`$:

$`\underset{s^it^j}{\text{Coeff}}{\displaystyle \frac{\eta ^p\mathrm{exp}((s+1)\theta )}{(1+\eta )^q(1+t\eta )}}[C_m]`$ $`=`$ $`\underset{s^it^j}{\text{Coeff}}\underset{\eta =0}{\text{Res}}{\displaystyle \frac{\eta ^p(1+\eta +s\eta )^gd\eta }{(1+\eta )^q(1+t\eta )\eta ^{m+1}}}`$
$`=`$ $`\text{const.}\underset{\eta =0}{\text{Res}}{\displaystyle \frac{\eta ^p(1+\eta )^{gi}\eta ^i\eta ^jd\eta }{(1+\eta )^q\eta ^{m+1}}}`$
$`=`$ $`\text{const.}\underset{\eta =0}{\text{Res}}\eta ^{i+j+pm1}(1+\eta )^{giq}d\eta .`$
Now since $`giqgq(ml)0`$ by hypothesis, the second factor is a polynomial of degree $`giq`$. All terms therefore have degree at most

$$(i+j+pm1)+(giq)p+(ml)m1+gq=pl1+gq,$$

which is less than $`1`$ by hypothesis. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

## 6  Restriction of the universal classes to the fixed-point set

In order to apply (3)(iii), we need to know how the equivariant universal classes restrict to each component of the fixed-point set. The lowest component $`F_0=𝒩`$ is easy. The universal pair over $`\times C`$ restricts to a universal bundle over $`𝒩\times C`$, and the $`T`$-action restricts to a trivial action. So $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$ and $`\psi _j`$ restrict to classes on $`𝒩`$ defined in a like manner, and bearing the same names. The relations between these classes on $`𝒩`$ have been studied by many authors, notably Zagier ; we will have occasion to use his results later.

The components $`F_d`$ for $`d>0`$ are handled by the following lemma.

(6.1) For $`d>0`$, the restrictions of the universal classes to $`F_d`$ are pulled back from the symmetric product $`C_{2g+n12d}`$; indeed,

* $`\alpha |_{F_d}=(2d1)(\eta u)+\theta `$;
* $`\beta |_{F_d}=(\eta u)^2`$;
* $`\psi _j|_{F_d}=\frac{1}{2}(\eta u)\xi _j`$;
* $`\gamma |_{F_d}=\frac{1}{2}(\eta u)^2\theta `$.

Proof. We first construct an equivariant universal family $`(𝐄,𝚽)`$ of Higgs bundles over $`F_d\times C`$. Since $`\text{End}𝐄`$ is unique as an equivariant bundle by (1), the universal classes must restrict to the Künneth components of its second Chern class.

Take the following three ingredients. First, the line bundle $`K\mathrm{\Xi }(n)`$ over $`C`$. Second, the universal divisor $`\mathrm{\Delta }C_{2g+n12d}\times C`$, or rather its associated line bundle $`𝒪(\mathrm{\Delta })`$. Third, any Poincaré line bundle $``$ over $`\text{Jac}^dC\times C`$. Now pull all three back to $`F_d\times C`$. By the definition of the fibered product, $`^2`$ and $`K\mathrm{\Xi }(n)(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ are isomorphic when restricted to any fiber of the projection $`F_d\times CF_d`$. So by the push-pull formula, $`^2K^1\mathrm{\Xi }^1(n)(\mathrm{\Delta })`$ is the pull-back from $`F_d`$ of a line bundle, say $`M`$. There is then an element $`sH^0(F_d\times C,M^2K\mathrm{\Xi }(n))`$ vanishing precisely on the inverse image of $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$.

Let $`𝐄=M\mathrm{\Xi }^1`$, and let $`𝚽H^0(\text{End}𝐄K(n))`$ be given by $`𝚽=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 0\\ s& 0\end{array}\right)`$ with respect to the splitting. Then $`(𝐄,𝚽)`$ parametrizes the pairs of the form described in (4)(ii). It is hence a universal family. Moreover, if $`T`$ acts on the two factors with weights $`1`$ and $`0`$ respectively, then it acts on $`𝚽`$ by scalar multiplication. By (1), then, $`\text{End}𝐄`$ is equivariantly isomorphic to the restriction of its counterpart from $`_n\times C`$.

Since $`𝐄`$ splits as a direct sum, $`c_2(\text{End}𝐄)=(c_1(M\mathrm{\Xi }^1)c_1())^2=c_1(M\mathrm{\Xi }^2)^2=c_1(K^1(n)(\mathrm{\Delta }))^2`$. For this to be correct equivariantly, we must include the weights of the $`T`$-action, so the equivariant $`c_1`$ is the non-equivariant $`c_1`$ minus $`u`$. It is well-known that

$$c_1(𝒪(\mathrm{\Delta }))=(2g+n12d)\sigma +\eta +\underset{j=1}{\overset{2g}{}}\xi _je_j:$$

see for example Arbarello et al. . Hence

$$c_2(\text{End}𝐄)=((22gn)\sigma +(2g+n12d)\sigma +\eta +\underset{j=1}{\overset{2g}{}}\xi _je_ju)^2.$$

Using the identity $`\left(\xi _je_j\right)^2=2\theta \sigma `$ and comparing coefficients with those of (1.5) yields the result. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

All our weapons are now prepared, and we are ready to attack the main result. It is not a frontal assault, however. Rather, we begin by computing some relations quite different from the $`\rho `$-classes.

## 7  Some recursively defined polynomials in $`𝜶`$, $`𝜷`$, $`𝜸`$ and $`𝒖`$

The $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant subring is at the heart of the larger ring containing it; its structure is the key to that of the whole. Our strategy will therefore be to look first for relations between $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\gamma `$. The method is curiously roundabout. First, certain complicated polynomials, defined recursively here in §7, are shown in §8 to be relations, by writing down their equivariant extensions explicitly. Then they are shown to be expressible in terms of the much simpler polynomials $`\rho _{r,s,t}^c`$ by a purely algebraic argument, given in §9. Not until §12 does a dimension count show that the $`\rho `$-classes must all be relations.

One relation which holds automatically in all $`_n`$ is $`\gamma ^{g+1}=0`$. This is simply because $`\gamma =2_{j=1}^g\psi _j\psi _{j+g}`$ and each $`\psi _j^2=0`$ by skew-commutativity. It is therefore convenient to view our polynomials as belonging to the ring $`R=[\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ]/(\gamma ^{g+1})`$.

Define polynomials $`\xi _r^k`$ by $`\xi _r^k=0`$ for $`r<0`$, $`\xi _0^k=1`$, and

$$(r+1)\xi _{r+1}^k=\alpha \xi _r^k+(r2k)\beta \xi _{r1}^k+2\gamma \xi _{r2}^k$$
(7.1)
for $`r>0`$. When $`k=0`$, these are the polynomials $`\xi _r`$ defined by Zagier , and his generating function for the $`\xi _r`$ extends readily.

(7.2) Define $`F_0^k(x)=_{r=0}^{\mathrm{}}\xi _r^kx^rR[[x]]`$. Then

$$F_0^k(x)=(1\beta x^2)^{(2k1)/2}e^{2\gamma x/\beta }\left(\frac{1+x\sqrt{\beta }}{1x\sqrt{\beta }}\right)^{(\alpha \beta +2\gamma )/2\beta \sqrt{\beta }}.$$

Proof. From Proposition 4 of Zagier  we know that $`F_0^0`$ satisfies the differential equation

$$(1\beta x^2)(F_0^0)^{}(x)=(\alpha +\beta x+2\gamma x^2)F_0^0(x).$$

Now (7.1) is equivalent to

$$(r+1)\xi _{r+1}^k(r1)\beta \xi _{r1}^k=\alpha \xi _r^k+(12k)\beta \xi _{r1}+2\gamma \xi _{r2},$$

which shows that $`F_0^k`$ satisfies the differential equation

$$(1\beta x^2)(F_0^k)^{}(x)=(\alpha +(12k)\beta x+2\gamma x^2)F_0^k(x),$$

with initial condition $`F_0^k(0)=1`$. But $`(1\beta x^2)^kF_0^0`$ satisfies the same differential equation

$`(1\beta x^2)\left((1\beta x^2)^kF_0^0\right)^{}`$ $`=`$ $`(1\beta x^2)^k(1\beta x^2)(F_0^0)^{}k\beta x(1\beta x^2)^kF_0^0`$
$`=`$ $`(\alpha +\beta x+2\gamma x^2)(1\beta x^2)^kF_0^02k\beta x(1\beta x^2)^kF_0^0`$
$`=`$ $`(\alpha +(12k)\beta x+2\gamma x^2)(1\beta x^2)^kF_0^0,`$
and certainly $`(1\beta 0^2)^kF_0^0(0)=1`$, so we conclude that

$$F_0^k(x)=(1\beta x^2)^kF_0^0(x).$$

Now substitute Zagier’s generating function for $`F_0^0`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

(7.3) The polynomial $`\xi _r^k`$ is a relation on $`𝒩`$ whenever $`rg+2k`$.

Proof. An equivalent form of (7) is $`\xi _r^k=_{i=0}^k\xi _{r2i}^0(\beta )^i`$, and Zagier shows that $`\xi _r^0`$ is a relation on $`𝒩`$ for $`rg`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

Now define an expression with one more index:

$$\xi _{r,s}^k=\underset{i=0}{\overset{s}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r2k+si}{r2k}\right)\beta ^{si}\frac{(2\gamma )^i}{i!}\xi _{ri}^k.$$
(7.4)
Note that this is $`0`$ if $`r<2k`$. Moreover, the $`i`$th term in the sum vanishes when $`i>r`$, and also (as an element of $`R`$) when $`i>g`$. Hence in particular $`\xi _{2k,g+l}^k=\beta ^l\xi _{2k,g}^k`$ in $`R`$ for all $`l0`$.

(7.5) Let $`F^k(x,y)=_{r,s=0}^{\mathrm{}}\xi _{r,s}^kx^ry^sR[[x,y]]`$. Then

$$F^k(x,y)=\left((1\beta y)^2\beta x^2\right)^{(2k1)/2}e^{2\gamma x/\beta }\left(\frac{1+x\sqrt{\beta }\beta y}{1x\sqrt{\beta }\beta y}\right)^{(\alpha \beta +2\gamma )/2\beta \sqrt{\beta }}.$$

Proof. For fixed $`r`$ we have

$`{\displaystyle \underset{s0}{}}\xi _{r,s}^ky^s`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{r}{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{(2\gamma y)^i}{i!}}\xi _{ri}^k{\displaystyle \underset{s=i}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r2k+si}{r2k}\right)(\beta y)^{si}`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{(1\beta y)^{r2k+1}}}{\displaystyle \underset{i=0}{\overset{r}{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{(2\gamma y)^i}{i!}}\xi _{ri}^k.`$
Multiplying by $`x^r`$ and summing over $`r0`$ we obtain

$$F^k(x,y)=(1\beta y)^{2k1}e^{2\gamma xy/(1\beta y)}F_0^k(\frac{x}{1\beta y}),$$

and the desired result follows by substituting the formula given in (7). .  $`\mathrm{}`$

(7.6) For $`r,s0`$ we have

$$\xi _{r,s}^k=\underset{l=0}{\overset{s}{}}(1)^{sl}\left[\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r+l}{r}\right)+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r+l1}{r}\right)\right]\xi _{sl}^k\xi _{r+s+l}^k,$$

where the binomial coefficient $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{1}{0}\right)`$ is to be taken as 0.

Proof. Similar to Zagier’s Proof 1 of his Theorem 4. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

## 8  Proof that the recursively defined polynomials are relations

After this algebraic preparation, we now find some relations between $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\gamma `$ that can be expressed in terms of the classes $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$ introduced above. We make fundamental use of Kirwan’s theorem (3)(iii), which tells us that any polynomial in the generators that vanishes on the equivariant cohomology of each component of the fixed-point set must be a relation.

(8.1) For $`n0`$, let $`pR[u]`$ be an equivariant relation on $`_{n+2}`$, that is, an element of the kernel of the natural map to $`H_T^{}(_{n+2})`$. Then $`p/u`$ is an equivariant relation on $`_n`$.

Proof. By Kirwan’s theorem (3)(iii), it suffices to show that $`p/u`$ restricts to an equivariant relation on each component of the fixed-point set of $`_n`$.

For $`F_0=𝒩`$, this is obvious, since $`p`$ is also a relation on $`H_T^{}(𝒩)=H^{}(𝒩)[u]`$.

As for $`F_d`$ with $`d>0`$, we may work in $`H^{}(C_m)`$, where $`m=2g+n12d`$. The relation $`p`$ restricts to a relation in $`H^{}(C_{m+2})[u]`$; moreover, since by (6) the restrictions of $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, $`\gamma `$ are polynomials in $`\eta u`$ and $`\theta `$, the relation can be expressed as a polynomial $`r(\varphi ,\theta ,u)|_{\varphi =\eta u}`$ such that $`r/u(\varphi ,\theta ,u)|_{\varphi =\eta u}`$ is the restriction of $`p/u`$, which we want to vanish.

The assignment $`u\eta \varphi `$ induces an isomorphism $`H^{}(C_{m+2})[u]H^{}(C_{m+2})[\varphi ]`$, so $`r(\varphi ,\theta ,\eta \varphi )`$ is a relation in $`H^{}(C_{m+2})[\varphi ]`$. Observe now that the derivative with respect to $`\eta `$ of any relation in $`H^{}(C_{m+2})`$ is a relation in $`H^{}(C_m)`$. This follows directly from the list of relations given by Macdonald \[20, 6.21\]. Therefore $`/\eta \text{(}r(\varphi ,\theta ,\eta \varphi )\text{)}`$ is a relation in $`H^{}(C_m)[\varphi ]`$, and hence

$$\frac{}{\eta }\text{(}r(\varphi ,\theta ,\eta \varphi )\text{)}|_{\varphi =\eta u}=\frac{r}{u}(\varphi ,\theta ,u)|_{\varphi =\eta u}$$

is a relation in $`H^{}(C_m)`$, as desired. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

(8.2) For $`n0`$, let $`pR[u]`$ be an equivariant relation on $`_n`$. Then $`(u^2\beta )p`$ is an equivariant relation on $`_{n+1}`$.

Proof. Let $`F_d`$ be any component of the fixed-point set of $`_{n+1}`$. We show that restricting $`(u^2\beta )p`$ to $`F_d`$ yields $`0`$. It is clearly true on $`F_0=𝒩`$ since this is contained in $`_n`$. For $`d>0`$, the restriction of $`u^2\beta `$ to $`F_d`$ is $`\eta (2u\eta )`$ by (6). On the other hand $`p`$ restricted to $`F_d_n`$ is supposed to be zero. But the image of the inclusion $`F_d_nF_d`$ is Poincaré dual to $`\eta `$, since it is an étale cover of the inclusion $`C_{2g+n12d}C_{2g2d+n}`$. Hence $`\eta `$ times a relation on $`F_d_n`$ is a relation on $`F_d`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

These results suggest that, even if we are interested only in the relations on $`_0`$, it is useful to study $`_n`$ for all $`n`$.

(8.3) For $`n0`$ and $`k=0,\mathrm{},[n/2]`$, the equivariant class

$$F^k(u,1)_{2g+2n}=\underset{r=0}{\overset{g+n}{}}\xi _{r,g+nr}^ku^r$$

is an equivariant relation on $`_{n+2}`$.

Proof. By Kirwan’s theorem (3)(iii), it suffices to show that it restricts to a relation on each component of the fixed-point set of $`_{n+2}`$.

For the first component $`F_0`$, namely $`𝒩`$, this follows immediately from (7) and (7).

For the remaining components $`F_d`$ with $`d>0`$, use (6) to restrict (7) to $`F_d`$. This yields

$$F^k(u,1)_{2g+2n}=\left(e^{\theta u}\frac{(1(\eta u)(\eta 2u))^{d+k1}}{(1\eta (\eta u))^{dk}}\right)_{2g+2n},$$

where the subscript, as in the past, denotes the part in total degree $`2g+2n`$, that is, in ordinary degree $`2(2g+2n)`$. To show that this vanishes in $`H^{}(C_{2g2d+1+n})H^{}(F_d)`$, express it as

$`\left(e^{\theta u}{\displaystyle \frac{(1(\eta u)(\eta 2u))^{d+k1}}{(1+\eta u)^{dk}\left(1\frac{\eta ^2}{1+\eta u}\right)^{dk}}}\right)_{2g+2n}`$
$`=`$ $`\left({\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{dk+i}{i}\right){\displaystyle \frac{\eta ^{2i}e^{\theta u}}{(1+\eta u)^{dk+i}}}(1(\eta u)(\eta 2u))^{d+k1}\right)_{2g+2n}.`$
It follows immediately from (5) that

$$\left(\frac{e^{\theta u}(\eta u)^{2i}}{(1+\eta u)^{dk+i}}\right)_{2(gd+n+i+1k)+j}=0$$

for $`j0`$ (the 2 appearing in the subscript since $`\eta u`$ and $`\theta u`$ are substituted for $`\eta `$ and $`\theta `$), and hence that

$$\left(\frac{e^{\theta u}\eta ^{2i}}{(1+\eta u)^{dk+i}}\right)_{2(gd+n+1k)+j}=0$$

for $`n0`$. Consequently each term in the sum above vanishes in total degree $`2g+2n`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

* (8.4) For even $`n0`$ and $`k=0,\mathrm{},n/2`$, the equivariant class

$$\left((2+u^2\beta )^{n/2k}F^k(u,1)\right)_{2g+n+2k}$$

is an equivariant relation on $`_{n+2}`$ divisible by $`u^{2k}`$.
* For odd $`n0`$ and $`k=0,\mathrm{},(n1)/2`$, the equivariant class

$$\left((1+u^2\beta )(2+u^2\beta )^{(n1)/2k}F^k(u,1)\right)_{2g+n+2k+1}$$

is an equivariant relation on $`_{n+2}`$ divisible by $`u^{2k+1}`$.

Proof. Since $`u`$ is not a zero-divisor in $`H_T^{}(_{n+2})`$, to show the expression in (a) is a relation it suffices to do the same for the part in total degree $`2g+2n`$ of

$`u^{n2k}(2+u^2\beta )^{n/2k}F^k(u,1)`$
$`=`$ $`\left((1+u^2\beta )^2((1\beta )^2\beta u^2)\right)^{n/2k}F^k(u,1)`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{i}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\frac{n}{2}k}{i}\right)(1+u^2\beta )^{2i}\left((1\beta )^2\beta u^2\right)^{n/2ki}F^k(u,1)`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{i}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\frac{n}{2}k}{i}\right)(1+u^2\beta )^{2i}F^{n/2i}(u,1)`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{i,j}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\frac{n}{2}k}{i}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2i}{j}\right)(u^2\beta )^jF^{n/2i}(u,1).`$
By (8), $`F^{n/2i}(u,1)_{2g+2n2j}`$ is a relation on $`_{nj+2}`$; hence by (8),

$$\left((u^2\beta )^jF^{n/2i}(u,1)\right)_{2g+2n}$$

is a relation on $`_{n+2}`$.

The statement about divisibility is easy, since $`F^k(u,1)=\xi _{r,s}^ku^r`$ and $`\xi _{r,s}^k=0`$ for $`r<2k`$.

The proof of (b) is similar: first multiply by $`u^{n12k}`$, compute as before

$`u^{n12k}(1+u^2\beta )(2+u^2\beta )^{(n1)/2k}F^k(u,1)`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{i,j}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\frac{n1}{2}k}{i}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2i+1}{j}\right)(u^2\beta )^jF^{(n1)/2i}(u,1),`$
then apply (8) and (8).

As in (a), this is clearly divisible by $`u^{2k}`$, but the quotient is further divisible by another factor of $`u`$. This is because the coefficient of $`u^0`$ in the quotient is

$`\left((1\beta )(2\beta )^{(n1)/2k}{\displaystyle \underset{s=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}\xi _{2k,s}^k\right)_{2g+n+1}`$
$`=`$ $`\left((1\beta )(2\beta )^{(n1)/2k}{\displaystyle \underset{s=g}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}\xi _{2k,s}^k\right)_{2g+n+1}`$
$`=`$ $`\left((1\beta )(2\beta )^{(n1)/2k}\xi _{2k,g}^k{\displaystyle \underset{l=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}\beta ^l\right)_{2g+n+1}`$
$`=`$ $`\left((2\beta )^{(n1)/2k}\xi _{2k,g}^k\right)_{2g+n+1}`$
$`=`$ $`0`$
using $`\xi _{2k,g+l}^k=\beta ^l\xi _{2k,g}^k`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

(8.5) For $`n2`$ even (resp. odd), $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$ (resp. $`\xi _{r,s}^k\beta \xi _{r,s1}^k`$) is a relation in the ordinary cohomology of $`_{n+2}`$

* for $`k=[n/2]i`$, $`r=n2i`$, and $`s=g+i`$, where $`i=0,\mathrm{},[n/2]`$;
* for $`k=[n/2]+j`$, $`r=n+3j`$, and $`s=gj`$, where $`j=1,\mathrm{},g`$.

Proof. Suppose first that $`n`$ is even. For (i), just take the formula from (1)(a) with $`k=n/2i`$, plug in $`F^k(u,1)=\xi _{r,s}^ku^r`$, divide by $`u^{2k}`$ and set $`u=0`$. Then compute using the definition of $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$, the binomial theorem, and $`\gamma ^{g+1}=0`$. For (ii), take the same formula on $`_{n+2j}`$ with $`k=n/2+j`$, apply (8) $`j`$ times, and proceed as in (i). Now suppose that $`n`$ is odd. It suffices to prove the same statement for the class $`\xi _{r,s}^k\beta \xi _{r,s1}^k+\xi _{r2,g+1}^k`$, because in case (i) the last term vanishes altogether, and in case (ii) it was shown in the even case to be a relation on $`_{n+3}_{n+2}`$. Then everything is similar to the even case. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

## 9  Expressing the $`𝝃`$-classes in terms of the $`𝝆`$-classes

We now have many relations on $`_n`$. We cannot yet show that the simple polynomials $`\rho _{r,s,t}^c`$ of the main theorem are relations, but at least we can show that the relations we do have are linear combinations of them. Hence the goal of this section is to prove the following purely algebraic result.

(9.1) (a) For $`r2k`$, $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$ is a linear combination of those $`\rho _{u,v,w}^{r2k+vw}`$ with $`wr2k`$ and $`u+3wr`$. (b) For $`r2k+1`$, $`\xi _{r,s}^k\beta \xi _{r,s1}^k`$ is a linear combination of those $`\rho _{u,v,w}^{r2k+1+vw}`$ with $`wr2k+1`$ and $`u+3wr`$.

It is an easy matter to check, using high-school algebra and the equality of total degrees $`r+2s+3t=u+2v+3w`$, that when $`n`$, $`k`$, $`r`$ and $`s`$ are as in (8), the conditions (2.4) of membership in $`I_n^g`$ are satisfied by the $`\rho `$-classes named above. Hence the relations of (8) belong to $`I_n^g`$.

The proof of (9) will use a generating function for the $`\xi _r^k`$ which generalizes a formula for the $`\xi _r`$ stated without proof in Zagier’s paper . Zagier kindly communicated a proof to us, and it goes through almost verbatim for the generalization.

(9.2) If

$$\varphi _m^k(r,p)=\underset{x^m}{\text{Coeff}}\frac{1}{\mathrm{cosh}^{2k}\sqrt{3x}}\frac{\sqrt{3x}}{\mathrm{sinh}\sqrt{3x}}(\frac{\sqrt{3x}}{\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{3x}})^r(\frac{1}{x}\frac{\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{3x}}{x\sqrt{3x}})^p,$$

then for $`r0`$,

$$\xi _r^k=\underset{m,p}{}\frac{\varphi _m^k(r,p)}{3^{m+p}(r2m3p)!p!}\alpha ^{r2m3p}\beta ^m(2\gamma )^p.$$

Proof. The formula for $`\varphi _m^k(r,p)`$ may be abbreviated as $`\text{Coeff}_{x^m}A(x)B(x)^rC(x)^p`$. This directly gives a generating function for these numbers with $`r`$ and $`p`$ fixed, but to compute

$$F_0^k(t)=\underset{r}{}\xi _r^kt^r$$

we need instead a generating function for $`\varphi _m^k(l+2m+3p,p)`$ with $`l`$ and $`p`$ fixed and $`m`$ variable. The passage from one to the other, as usual, is by residue calculus: write $`\varphi _m^k(r,p)`$ as $`\text{Res}_{x=0}(A(x)B(x)^rC(x)^pdx/x^{m+1})`$ and change variables to $`y=x/B(x)^2=(1/3)\mathrm{tanh}^2(\sqrt{3x})`$ to get

$$\varphi _m^k(l+2m+3p,p)=\underset{y=0}{\text{Res}}(a(y)b(y)^lc(y)^pdy/y^{m+1})$$

with $`a(y)=A(x(y))x^{}(y)/B(y)^2`$, $`b(y)=B(x(y))`$, $`c(y)=C(x(y))B(x(y))^3`$. In other words,

$$\underset{m}{}\varphi _m^k(l+2m+3p,p)y^m=a(y)b(y)^lc(y)^p.$$

Then we need to verify

$`F_0^k(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{l,m,p0}{}}\varphi _m^k(l+2m+3p,p){\displaystyle \frac{(\alpha t)^l}{l!}}(\beta t^2/3)^m{\displaystyle \frac{(2\gamma t^3/3)^p}{p!}}`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{l,p0}{}}a(y){\displaystyle \frac{(\alpha tb(y))^l}{l!}}{\displaystyle \frac{(\gamma t^3c(y)/3)^p}{p!}}`$
$`=`$ $`a(y)\mathrm{exp}\text{(}\alpha tb(y)+\gamma t^3c(y)/3\text{)}`$
with $`y=\beta t^2/3`$. Substituting for $`a`$, $`b`$, and $`c`$ the formulas above, we find

$$F_0^k(t)=\mathrm{cosh}^{12k}(\sqrt{3x})\mathrm{exp}\text{(}(\alpha \beta +2\gamma )\sqrt{3x/\beta ^3}2\gamma \mathrm{tanh}(\sqrt{3x})/\beta ^{3/2}\text{)}$$

which, since the new variable $`t`$ is related to the original variable $`x`$ by $`t=\sqrt{3y/\beta }=\beta ^{1/2}\mathrm{tanh}(\sqrt{3x})`$, is equivalent to (7). .  $`\mathrm{}`$

Proof of (9). Consider first part (a). Regarded as a polynomial in $`\alpha `$ and $`\gamma `$ only, each $`\rho _{u,v,w}^{r2k+vw}`$ is homogeneous of degree $`u+w`$. So let us decompose $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$ likewise into its homogeneous summands relative to this $`\alpha ,\gamma `$-grading. They are nonzero only in $`\alpha ,\gamma `$-degree $`r2m`$ for $`m0`$. Indeed, using (9) and (7.4), we find that the part of $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$ in $`\alpha ,\gamma `$-degree $`r2m`$ equals

$$\frac{1}{3^m}\underset{i,j}{}\frac{(r2k+si)!}{(r2k)!}\frac{\alpha ^{r2mj}}{(r2mj)!}\frac{\beta ^{s+mj}}{(si)!}\frac{(2\gamma )^j}{i!(ji)!}\varphi _{mj+i}^k(ri,ji),$$

where we adopt the convention of summing over those indices where the factorials all have non-negative arguments.

The $`\rho `$-classes having total degree $`u+2v+3w=r+2s`$ and $`\alpha ,\gamma `$-degree $`u+w=r2m`$ are of the form $`\rho _{r2mw,s^{}w,w}^{r^{}+s^{}2w}`$ for $`w=0,\mathrm{},\mathrm{min}([(r^{}+s^{})/2],s^{},r2m)`$, where we have introduced the abbreviations $`r^{}=r2k`$ and $`s^{}=s+m`$. Using their definition (2.3), we may express any linear combination of these $`\rho `$-classes as

$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{3^m}}{\displaystyle \underset{i,w}{}}a_w(q2wi)!{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha ^{ri2mw}}{(ri2mw)!}}{\displaystyle \frac{\beta ^{s^{}iw}}{(s^{}iw)!}}{\displaystyle \frac{(2\gamma )^{i+w}}{i!}}`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{3^m}}{\displaystyle \underset{j,w}{}}a_w(qwj)!{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha ^{r2mj}}{(r2mj)!}}{\displaystyle \frac{\beta ^{s^{}j}}{(s^{}j)!}}{\displaystyle \frac{(2\gamma )^j}{(jw)!}},`$
where $`a_w`$ are arbitrary scalars, $`q=r^{}+s^{}`$, and the factor of $`1/3^m`$ is inserted for convenience.

At least when $`s`$ is large enough that $`s^{}`$ and $`[(r^{}+s^{})/2]r2m`$, these span all the polynomials in $`\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma `$ of the given total degree and $`\alpha ,\gamma `$-degree. It is therefore possible to write the part of $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$ in $`\alpha ,\gamma `$-degree $`r2m`$ as a linear combination of this kind. The goal is to show that $`a_w=0`$ whenever either $`w>r^{}`$ or $`u+3w>r`$, that is, $`w>m`$.

The reader may worry that this will only prove the desired result for $`s`$ large compared to $`r`$. But, according to (2.3) and (7.4), the coefficient, in all of the polynomials we are concerned with, of the monomial $`\alpha ^a\beta ^{sb}\gamma ^c`$ for fixed $`a,b,c`$ is a rational function of $`s`$. So if a linear dependence between these polynomials can be established for sufficiently large $`s`$, then it holds for all $`s`$.

To determine the scalars $`a_w`$, set the coefficients of $`\alpha ^{r2mj}\beta ^{s^{}j}(2\gamma )^j`$ in the last two equations to be equal:

$$\underset{i}{}\frac{(r^{}+si)!(s^{}j)!}{r^{}!(si)!i!(ji)!}\varphi _{mj+i}^k(ri,ji)=\underset{w}{}\frac{a_w(qwj)!}{(jw)!}.$$

Let $`b_j`$ be the left-hand side, and $`L`$ the lower triangular matrix whose $`(j,w)`$ entry is $`(qwj)!/(jw)!`$. Here $`j,w`$ index the rows and columns, and run from $`0`$ to $`r2m`$. In vector notation, the equation above then says $`(b_j)=L(a_w)`$.

The inverse of $`L`$ is the lower triangular matrix whose $`(w,j)`$ entry is

$$(1)^{w+j}\frac{(q+12w)}{(wj)!(q+1wj)!}.$$

Indeed, the sum that needs to be demonstrated is

$$\underset{j=w}{\overset{w^{}}{}}(1)^{w^{}+j}\frac{(q+12w^{})(qwj)!}{(w^{}j)!(q+1w^{}j)!(jw)!}=\delta _{w,w^{}}.$$

This is obvious for $`ww^{}`$. For $`w<w^{}`$, if the summand is denoted $`N_j`$, then as Shalosh B. Ekhad has pointed out ,

$$(q+1ww^{})(w^{}w)N_j=(jw)(q+1wj)N_j(j+1w)(qwj)N_{j+1};$$

since the coefficient on the left is independent of $`j`$, and is nonzero for $`s`$ and hence $`q`$ large, the sum telescopes.

Hence

$$a_w=\underset{i,j}{}\frac{(1)^{wj}(q+12w)(r^{}+si)!(s^{}j)!}{(wj)!(q+1wj)!r^{}!(si)!i!(ji)!}\varphi _{mj+i}^k(ri,ji).$$

Now sum over all variables, and group the factorials together as binomial coefficients, to create the grand generating function

$`{\displaystyle \underset{m,q,s,w}{}}a_w{\displaystyle \frac{(q+1w)!}{(q+12w)(s^{}w)!}}M^mQ^qS^sW^w`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{i,j,m,q,s,w}{}}(1)^{wj}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r^{}+si}{r^{}}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{s^{}j}{wj}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{q+1w}{j}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{j}{i}\right)\varphi _{mj+i}^k(ri,ji)M^mQ^qS^sW^w.`$
Using the binomial series, we can successively eliminate the sums over $`q`$, $`w`$, and $`s`$, to obtain

$$\underset{i,p,m}{}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+p}{i}\right)\frac{(1WQ)^m(WQ^2)^{i+p}M^{p+m}S^i}{Q(1Q)^{i+p+1}(1S(1WQ))^{r^{}+1}}\varphi _m^k(ri,p).$$

Substituting (9) for the sum over $`m`$ yields

$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{Q(1S(1WQ))^{r^{}+1}}}{\displaystyle \underset{i,p}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{i+p}{i}\right){\displaystyle \frac{(WQ^2)^{i+p}M^pS^i}{(1Q)^{i+p+1}}}`$
$``$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{cosh}^{2k}\sqrt{X}}}{\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{X}}{\mathrm{sinh}\sqrt{X}}}({\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{X}}{\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{X}}})^{ri}({\displaystyle \frac{3}{X}}{\displaystyle \frac{3\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{X}}{X\sqrt{X}}})^p,`$
where $`X=3(1WQ)M`$. Applying the binomial theorem again and simplifying transforms this to

$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{Q(1S(1WQ))^{r^{}+1}}}{\displaystyle \frac{1WQ}{1QWQ+WQ^2(1S(1WQ))\frac{\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{X}}{\sqrt{X}}}}`$ (9.3)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{cosh}^{2k}\sqrt{X}}}{\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{X}}{\mathrm{sinh}\sqrt{X}}}({\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{X}}{\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{X}}})^r.`$
The goal is to show that the coefficient of $`M^mQ^qS^sW^w`$ vanishes in the above for $`q=r^{}+s^{}`$ and $`w>\mathrm{min}(r^{},m)`$. Since $`X=3(1WQ)M`$, it is equivalent to multiply the generating function (9.3) by $`3^m(1WQ)^m`$ and take the coefficient of $`X^mQ^qS^sW^w`$. But the second line of (9.3) is a power series in $`X`$ only, so this coefficient is a linear combination of the coefficients, for $`nm`$, of $`X^nQ^qS^sW^w`$ in

$$\frac{1}{Q(1S(1WQ))^{r^{}+1}}\frac{(1WQ)^{m+1}}{1QWQ+WQ^2(1S(1WQ))\frac{\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{X}}{\sqrt{X}}}.$$

We will show that these all vanish.

In fact, we may replace $`\mathrm{tanh}\sqrt{X}/\sqrt{X}`$ by $`1+X`$ in the above. For this can be undone by substituting a power series of the form $`c_1X+c_2X^2+\mathrm{}`$ for $`X`$; hence the coefficients of $`X^nQ^qS^sW^w`$ in the former are linear combinations of $`X^pQ^qS^sW^w`$ in the latter, for $`pm`$.

Taking coefficients of $`X^p`$, $`S^s`$, $`W^w`$, and $`Q^{r^{}+s^{}}`$ in the resulting rational function yields

$$\underset{i=0}{\overset{s}{}}(1)^{w+i}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r^{}+spi}{r^{}p}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{p+i}{i}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{s^{}pi}{wpi}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r^{}+s^{}+1w}{n+i}\right).$$

Let $`F(s,i)`$ be the $`i`$th term in the sum. As pointed out by Shalosh B. Ekhad , if we define $`G(s,i)`$ by

$$\frac{i(r^{}+s+1pi)(s^{}+1pi)(r^{}+s^{}+2w)(r^{}+s+s^{}+3pwi)}{(s+1i)(s^{}+1w)(r^{}+s^{}+2pwi)}F(s,i),$$

then by high-school algebra,

$`G(s,i+1)G(s,i)=`$
$`(r^{}+s+1w)(r^{}+s^{}+2w)F(s,i)(s+1)(r^{}+s^{}+2pw)F(s+1,i),`$
and so, summing over $`i`$, we deduce that the sum satisfies a linear recurrence relation in $`s`$:

$$(r^{}+s+1w)(r^{}+s^{}+2w)\underset{i=0}{\overset{s}{}}F(s,i)(s+1)(r^{}+s^{}+2pw)\underset{i=0}{\overset{s+1}{}}F(s+1,i)=0.$$

If $`w>r^{}`$ and $`pm`$, the coefficient of the first sum in the recurrence is $`0`$ for $`s=wr^{}1`$, and the coefficient of the second sum is nonzero for all subsequent $`s`$. Hence the sum vanishes for all $`s`$ sufficiently large, namely $`wr^{}`$.

If $`w>m`$ and $`pm`$, then every term in the sum is easily seen to vanish for $`s=0`$, and for $`s=r^{}m1+p+w`$ if this is positive. The recurrence then implies that the sum is $`0`$ for all positive $`s`$.

This completes the proof of part (a); the proof of (b) is similar. Because

$$\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r^{}+si}{r^{}}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r^{}+s1i}{r^{}}\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r^{}1+si}{r^{}1}\right),$$

the grand generating function has $`r^{}1`$ substituted for $`r^{}`$; hence the same is true for all subsequent formulas. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

## 10  The relations divisible by $`𝜸`$

Many $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant relations on $`_n`$ were computed in §8, but none of these relations were divisible by $`\gamma `$. To find some $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant relations that are divisible by $`\gamma `$, we revive the space $``$ of flat connections, which is diffeomorphic to $`_0`$ as described in §2 of our previous paper . We will find a relationship between the cohomology at genus $`g`$ and genus $`g1`$. Accordingly, we will write $`^g`$ to indicate the dependence of $``$ on the genus. Let $`G=\mathrm{SL}(2,)`$, and define $`\mu _g:G^{2g}G`$ by $`\mu _g(A_j,B_j)=A_j^{}B_j^{}A_j^1B_j^1`$. Then $`^g=\mu _g^1(I)/G`$, where $`G`$ acts by simultaneous conjugation. The goal of this section is to prove the following

(10.1) Let $`\rho [\alpha ,\beta ,\psi _j]`$ be a relation on $`^{g1}`$. Then $`\psi _j\psi _{j+g}\rho `$ for each $`jg`$, and hence $`\gamma \rho `$, are relations on $`^g`$.

The proof will involve the following lemma.

(10.2) The only critical value of $`\mu _g`$ is the identity matrix $`I`$.

Proof. The derivative $`d\mu _g:𝔤^{2g}𝔤`$ at $`(A_j,B_j)G^{2g}`$ is easy to compute explicitly: see for example Goldman  or Gunning \[10, Lemma 26\]. It is a sum of $`g`$ terms, the $`k`$th being conjugate to $`(a_j,b_j)(I\text{Ad}A_k^1)b_k(I\text{Ad}B_k^1)a_k`$. At a critical point, then, all $`g`$ of these maps must fail to surject.

For $`A\pm IG=\mathrm{SL}(2,)`$, it is easy to check by hand, using Jordan canonical form, that the image of $`(I\text{Ad}A^1):𝔤𝔤`$ is a 2-dimensional subspace from which the eigenspaces of $`A`$ can be recovered, and is a subalgebra if and only if $`A`$ is not diagonalizable. If the maps are not surjective, then either these 2-dimensional subspaces must coincide, or one of $`A_k`$ or $`B_k`$ is $`\pm I`$. In the former case, $`A_k`$ and $`B_k`$ must have a common eigenspace (if they are not diagonalizable) or eigenspaces (if they are). In any case, they must commute, and so $`\mu _g(A_j,B_j)=I`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

Notice that the arguments of the last paragraph are special to $`\mathrm{SL}(2,)`$; the situation for $`\mathrm{SL}(r,)`$ with $`r>2`$ is more complicated.

Proof of (10). Let $`K=\mathrm{SU}(2)`$, and let $`LG`$ be the locus of matrices of the form $`U^1DU`$, where $`UK`$ and $`D=\text{diag}(\lambda ,1/\lambda )`$ for some positive real $`\lambda `$. Then $`L`$ is a smooth, contractible submanifold of $`G`$ whose tangent space at the identity is $`i`$ times that of $`K`$.

Let $``$ be the intersection $`\mu _g^1(I)(G^{2g2}\times L^2)`$. This is preserved by the $`K`$-action, and there are inclusions

$$\mu _{g1}^1(I)\times \{I\}\times \{I\}\mu _g^1(I).$$

Dividing by the $`K`$-action yields inclusions

$$\stackrel{~}{}^{g1}/K\stackrel{~}{}^g.$$

Here $`\stackrel{~}{}^g=\mu _g^1(I)/K`$, which is a $`G/K`$-bundle over $`^g`$. Since $`G/K`$ is contractible, this is homotopy equivalent to $`^g`$. It is not hard to check, using the definition of the universal classes in §1 of our previous paper , that $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\gamma `$, regarded as classes on $`\stackrel{~}{}^g`$, restrict to their counterparts on $`\stackrel{~}{}^{g1}`$.

It therefore suffices to prove the following two claims: that $`\stackrel{~}{}^{g1}/K`$ induces an isomorphism on cohomology; and that $`/K\stackrel{~}{}^g`$ is Poincaré dual to $`\psi _g\psi _{2g}`$. For then $`\psi _g\psi _{2g}\rho `$ must be a relation on $`\stackrel{~}{}^g`$. The result follows by symmetry, since the action of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ on $`[\alpha ,\beta ,\psi _j]`$ certainly preserves the ideal of relations, and there is an element of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ taking $`\psi _g\psi _{2g}`$ to $`\psi _j\psi _{j+g}`$ for each $`j`$.

To prove the first claim, first note that $``$ can be regarded as the fibered product $`G^{2g2}\times _G(L\times L)`$, where the map $`G^{2g2}G`$ is $`\mu _{g1}`$ and the map $`L\times LG`$ is $`(A,B)ABA^1B^1`$. A direct computation shows that no two $`A,BL`$ have $`ABA^1B^1=I`$; hence by (10) the map $`L\times LG`$ never touches a critical value of $`\mu _{g1}`$. So $``$ is locally trivial over $`L\times L`$ with fiber $`\mu _{g1}^1(I)`$. Since $`L\times L`$ is contractible, this implies that $``$ is homeomorphic to $`L\times L\times \mu _{g1}^1(I)`$.

It follows that $`\stackrel{~}{}^{g1}`$ and $`/K`$ are homotopy equivalent. Indeed, they are homotopy equivalent to the homotopy quotients $`(\mu _{g1}^1(I)\times EK)/K`$ and $`(\times EK)/K`$ respectively, and the latter retracts onto the former, since $`BK`$ is a direct limit of manifolds and $`L\times L`$ is contractible.

To prove the second claim, first note that $`L`$ meets $`KG`$ transversely at the single point $`I`$. It is therefore Poincaré dual to the standard generator of $`H^3(G,)`$. We can now either imitate the argument given by the second author \[31, Prop. 19.3\] for the $`\mathrm{SU}(2)`$ space $`𝒩^g=(\mu _g^1(I)K^{2g})/K`$, or simply use that result. It tells us that the natural maps in the top row of the diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}K^{2g}& & \mu _g^1(I)K^{2g}& & 𝒩^g\\ & & & & \\ G^{2g}& & \mu _g^1(I)& & \stackrel{~}{}^g\end{array}$$

induce isomorphisms on $`H^3`$ under which the generator of the $`j`$th copy of $`H^3(K,)`$ corresponds to $`\psi _j`$. Since the outer columns also induce isomorphisms on $`H^3`$, so does every map in the diagram.

Since the pull-back by inclusion is Poincaré dual to transverse intersection, it now suffices to check that $`G^{2g2}\times L^2`$ is transverse to $`\mu _g^1(I)`$, or equivalently, that at every point of $``$ the derivative $`d\mu _g`$ remains surjective when restricted to the tangent space to $`G^{2g2}\times L^2`$. But this is true even if we restrict further to the tangent space to $`G^{2g2}`$, since as stated before we are at a regular value of $`\mu _{g1}`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

## 11  The cohomology not fixed by $`𝚪`$

Everything so far has been about the $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant part of $`H^{}(_n)^\mathrm{\Sigma }`$, generated by $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\gamma `$. Now it is time to say something about the non-invariant part and the classes $`\psi _j`$.

We begin with a result relating the non-invariant parts of the cohomology of the symmetric product $`C_m`$ at genus $`g`$ to the invariant part at lower genera.

(11.1) As a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-module, the cohomology of the symmetric product $`C_m^g`$ has the form

$$H^{}(C_m^g)=\underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\xi )[\eta ,\theta ]/I(C_{mk}^{gk}),$$

where $`I(C_{mk}^{gk})`$ is the ideal of relations between $`\eta `$ and $`\theta `$ in $`C_{mk}^{gk}`$, with the convention that $`I(C_{mk}^{gk})=[\eta ,\theta ]`$ if $`mk<0`$.

Proof. As shown in §5, there is a surjection of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-algebras

$$\underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\xi )[\eta ,\theta ]H^{}(C_m^g),$$

where $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k`$, being irreducible, is spanned by the orbit of $`\xi _1\xi _2\mathrm{}\xi _k`$ under $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$. It therefore suffices to show that a polynomial $`p(\eta ,\theta )`$ is a relation on $`C_{mk}^{gk}`$ if and only if $`p(\eta ,\theta )\xi _1\xi _2\mathrm{}\xi _k`$ is a relation on $`C_m^g`$.

By Poincaré duality the latter is true if and only if for all polynomials $`q(\eta ,\xi _j)`$,

$$p(\eta ,\theta )\xi _1\xi _2\mathrm{}\xi _kq(\eta ,\xi _j)[C_m^g]=0.$$
(11.2)
Now it follows from the description of $`H^{}(C_m^g)`$ in Macdonald  that $`_{j=1}^{2g}\xi _j^{p_j}\eta ^q[C_m^g]=1`$ if $`_{j=1}^gp_j+q=m`$ (so that the degrees match) and $`p_j=p_{j+g}1`$ for each $`jg`$ (so that it becomes a monomial in $`\eta `$ and $`\theta _j=\xi _j\xi _{j+g})`$. Otherwise it equals 0. Hence in (11.2) we only need to consider the case

$$q(\eta ,\xi _j)=\xi _{g+1}\mathrm{}\xi _{g+k}r(\eta ,\theta _{k+1},\mathrm{},\theta _g).$$

But $`q`$ can be averaged with its images under all permutations of $`\theta _{k+1},\mathrm{},\theta _g`$ without changing the value of (11.2). Hence we only need to consider the case where $`r`$ is a polynomial in $`\eta `$ and $`\theta _{k+1}+\mathrm{}+\theta _g`$. But then

$`p(\eta ,\theta )\xi _1\xi _2\mathrm{}\xi _kq(\eta ,\xi _j)[C_m^g]`$ $`=`$ $`(1)^kp(\eta ,\theta )\theta _1\theta _2\mathrm{}\theta _kr(\eta ,\theta _{k+1}+\mathrm{}+\theta _g)[C_m^g]`$
$`=`$ $`(1)^kp(\eta ,\theta _{k+1}+\mathrm{}+\theta _g)\theta _1\theta _2\mathrm{}\theta _kr(\eta ,\theta _{k+1}+\mathrm{}+\theta _g)[C_m^g].`$
This always vanishes if $`k>m`$. Otherwise, it equals $`(1)^kp(\eta ,\theta )r(\eta ,\theta )[C_{mk}^{gk}]`$. This vanishes for all $`r`$ if and only if $`p(\eta ,\theta )q(\eta ,\xi _j)[C_{mk}^{gk}]`$ vanishes for all polynomials $`q`$ in $`\eta `$ and $`\xi _j`$, since it does not alter the latter expression to replace $`q`$ with its projection on the $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant part, which is a polynomial in $`\eta `$ and $`\theta `$. Again by Poincaré duality, this is equivalent to $`p(\eta ,\theta )=0`$ in $`C_{mk}^{gk}`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

(11.3) As a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-module, the $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$-invariant part of the $`T`$-equivariant cohomology of $`_n^g`$ has the form

$$H_T^{}(_n^g)^\mathrm{\Sigma }\underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\psi )[\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ,u]/I_T(_{n+k}^{gk}).$$

Consequently, as a $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-module, the $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$-invariant part of the ordinary cohomology of $`_n^g`$ has the form

$$H^{}(_n^g)^\mathrm{\Sigma }\underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}\mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\psi )[\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ]/I(_{n+k}^{gk}).$$

Proof. First we show that if $`\lambda \mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\psi )`$ and $`rI_T(_{n+k}^{gk})`$, then $`\lambda rI_T(_n^g)`$. Certainly $`r`$ restricts to relations between $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, $`\gamma `$ and $`u`$ on $`𝒩^g=F_0^g`$ and between $`\eta `$, $`\theta `$ and $`u`$ on the remaining fixed components $`F_d^g_n^g`$. On the other hand, by Kirwan’s theorem (3)(iii) it suffices to show that $`\lambda r`$ restricts to similar relations on the fixed components $`F_d^{gk}`$ of $`_{n+k}^{gk}`$.

The case of $`d>0`$ follows immediately from the lemma. As for $`d=0`$, Proposition 2.5 of King-Newstead  asserts that if $`\lambda \mathrm{\Lambda }_0^k(\psi )`$ and $`r`$ is a relation between $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, $`\gamma `$ on $`𝒩^g`$, then $`\lambda r`$ is a relation on $`𝒩^{gk}`$. This is exactly what is needed.

The left-hand side is therefore a quotient of the right-hand side. To complete the proof, it remains only to check that the $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$-invariant, $`T`$-equivariant Poincaré polynomials agree. But if $`P=_it^idimH^i`$, then

$`(1t^2)P_T^\mathrm{\Sigma }(_n^g)`$
$`=`$ $`P^\mathrm{\Sigma }(_n^g)`$
$`=`$ $`P^\mathrm{\Sigma }(𝒩^g)+{\displaystyle \underset{d=1}{\overset{g+\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]}{}}}t^{2g+2d2}P(C_{2g+n12d}^g)`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}}\left(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k2}\right)\right)(t^{3k}P^\mathrm{\Sigma }(𝒩^{gk})+{\displaystyle \underset{d=1}{\overset{g+\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]}{}}}t^{2g+2d2}t^kP(C_{2g+n12dk}^{gk}))`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}}\left(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k2}\right)\right)t^{3k}(P^\mathrm{\Sigma }(𝒩^{gk})+{\displaystyle \underset{d=1}{\overset{g+\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]}{}}}t^{2(gk)+2d2}P(C_{2(gk)+n12d+k}^{gk}))`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}}\left(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k2}\right)\right)t^{3k}P^\mathrm{\Sigma }(_{n+k}^{gk})`$
$`=`$ $`(1t^2){\displaystyle \underset{k=0}{\overset{g}{}}}\left(\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{2g}{k2}\right)\right)t^{3k}P_T^\mathrm{\Sigma }(_{n+k}^{gk}),`$
using Kirwan’s theorem on the Leray sequence (3)(ii) in steps 1 and 6, the perfection of the Morse stratification (3)(i) in steps 2 and 5, the lemma and the result of King-Newstead in step 3, and high-school algebra in step 4. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

## 12  Wrap-up

At last we can show that the polynomials $`\rho _{r,s,t}^c`$ of (2.3) are relations, using every tool at our disposal: (9), (10), (11), and a dimension count. Recall that $`I_n^g`$ is the ideal of $`\rho `$-classes introduced in §2.

(12.1) Every element of $`I_n^g`$ is a relation on $`_n^g`$.

Proof. It is actually more convenient to work with $`n+2`$ than $`n`$, so let $`n2`$. Then every element of $`I_{n+2}^g`$ has total degree $`2g+n`$. In degree $`2g+n`$, $`I_{n+2}^g`$ is spanned by the elements $`\rho _{n2i,g+i,0}^{g+i}`$ for $`i=0,\mathrm{},[n/2]`$. The degrees with respect to $`\alpha `$ are all different, so these are linearly independent. The relations $`\xi _{n2i,g+i}^{[n/2]i}`$ of type (i) given in (8) are all of degree $`2g+n`$, also number $`[n/2]+1`$, and are linearly independent for the same reason. By (9) they are in the linear span of the $`\rho _{n2i,g+i,0}^{g+i}`$. Hence this equals the linear span of the relations of type (i), so all the $`\rho _{n2i,g+i,0}^{g+i}`$ are relations.

The diagram below is intended to help the reader visualize the ideal of relations. Each dot represents one of the $`\rho _{r,s,t}^c`$. The total degree is the vertical coordinate, and $`r`$ is the horizontal coordinate. The two edges of the dotted region reflect the two constraints imposed by (2.4). To avoid having to draw a third dimension, only those relations with $`t=0`$ have been shown. The dotted region for any fixed $`t>0`$ would look similar, only translated in a northwesterly direction. The relations established in the previous paragraph are those in the bottom row.

The rest of the proof proceeds by induction on the total degree. We have already seen that the part of $`I_n^g`$ in total degree $`2g+n`$ consists entirely of relations. Now fix $`j>0`$ and consider the part of $`I_{n+2}^g`$ in degree $`2g+n+j`$. Assume by induction that for all $`g`$ and $`n`$, the parts of $`I_{n+2}^g`$ in degree $`<2g+n+j`$ are known to be relations on $`_{n+2}^g`$.

In particular, if $`\rho _{r,s,t}^cI_{n+2}^g`$ has degree $`2g+n+j`$ and $`t>0`$, then $`\rho _{r,s,0}^cI_{n+2}^{gt}`$ has degree $`2(gt)+n+(jt)`$, and hence is a relation on $`_{n+2}^{gt}`$. By (11), $`\psi _1\mathrm{}\psi _{n+2}\rho _{r,s,0}^c`$ is a relation on $`_0^{gt+n+2}`$, so by (10), $`\psi _1\mathrm{}\psi _{n+2}\rho _{r,s,t}^c`$ is a relation on $`_0^{g+n+2}`$, and by (11) again, $`\rho _{r,s,t}^c`$ is a relation on $`_{n+2}^g`$. Because these relations have $`t>0`$, they are not shown in the diagram.

Only the $`\rho _{r,s,t}^c`$ with $`t=0`$ remain. Consider first those relations of the form $`\rho _{0,s,0}^c=c!/s!\beta ^sI_{n+2}^g`$. These are the relations at the left-hand edge of the diagram. If the degree equals $`2g+n+j`$, then since $`j>0`$,

$$2s=2g+n+j2g2+(n+3)$$

and

$$3s=3g+\frac{3}{2}n+\frac{3}{2}j>3g3+(n+3),$$

so in fact $`\rho _{0,s,0}^cI_{n+3}^g`$. Since it has degree $`2g+n+j=2g+(n+1)+(j1)`$, by the induction hypothesis again it is a relation on $`_{n+3}^g`$, and hence on $`_{n+2}^g_{n+3}^g`$.

What if $`t=0`$ but $`r>0`$? It is easily checked that

$$r\rho _{r,s,0}^c=c\alpha \rho _{r1,s,0}^{c1}+(cr)\rho _{r1,s1,1}^{c2}.$$

Now if $`r+2s=2g+n+j`$ and $`1rn+3j2`$ (so that we are not at the right-hand edge of the diagram), we know from the induction hypothesis that $`\rho _{r1,s,0}^{c1}`$ is a relation. And certainly $`\rho _{r,s1,1}^{c2}`$ is a relation, since it belongs to $`I_{n+2}^g`$ and has $`t>0`$. Hence under these circumstances $`\rho _{r,s,0}^c`$ is a relation. This fills in the interior of the diagram; the arrows depict multiplication by $`\alpha `$ (modulo $`\gamma `$), which takes $`\rho _{r1,s,0}^{c1}`$ to $`\rho _{r,s,0}^c`$.

Only one class of total degree $`2g+n+j`$ remains in $`I_{n+2}^g`$. This is $`\rho _{n+3j,gj}^g`$, at the right-hand edge of the diagram. We know from (8)(ii) that the class $`\xi _{n+3j,gj}^{[n/2]+j}`$ is a relation if $`n`$ is odd, and that $`\xi _{n+3j,gj}^{[n/2]+j}\beta \xi _{n+3j,gj1}^{[n/2]+j}`$ is a relation if $`n`$ is even. Since the leading term with respect to $`\alpha `$ of $`\xi _{r,s}^k`$ is $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{r2k+s}{r2k}\right)\alpha ^k/k!`$, the monomial $`\alpha ^{n+3j}\beta ^{gj}`$ appears in these relations with a nonzero coefficient. On the other hand, by (9) these relations can be expressed as a linear combination of $`\rho _{r,s,t}^cI_{n+2}^g`$. Since $`\rho _{n+3j,gj}^g`$ is the class of maximal degree $`n+3j`$ with respect to $`\alpha `$ among these, its coefficient in this combination must be nonzero. It is therefore indeed a relation. This completes the proof. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

(12.2) Every relation between $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, $`\gamma `$ on $`_n^g`$ is an element of $`I_n^g`$.

Proof. Since the converse has just been shown, it suffices to show that $`dimH^I(_n^g)=dim[\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ]/I_n^g`$, where $`H^I`$ denotes the part of $`H^{}`$ invariant under the action of both $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ and $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$.

(In the proofs of the analogous statement for $`𝒩^g`$ , it has been customary to show that all the Betti numbers match up. This can certainly be done for $`_n^g`$, but the cruder statement about overall dimension is clearly sufficient.)

Now since by (3)(i) the $`^\times `$ action is perfect, the dimension of $`H^I(_n^g)`$ may be expressed as a sum over the fixed components enumerated in (4):

$$dimH^I(_n^g)=dimH^I(𝒩^g)+\underset{d=1}{\overset{g+\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]}{}}dimH^I(C_{2g+n12d}).$$

The Poincaré polynomial of $`H^I(𝒩^g)`$ is

$$\frac{(1t^{2g})(1t^{2g+2})(1t^{2g+4})}{(1t^2)(1t^4)(1t^6)};$$

this is clear, for example, from the presentation with three generators and three relations . To find $`dimH^I(𝒩^g)`$ we want to substitute $`t=1`$. Of course 0 appears in the denominator, but the limit as $`t1`$ can easily be evaluated to $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{g+2}{3}\right)`$ by substituting $`t^2=1+ϵ`$, then using $`(1+ϵ)^k=1+kϵ+O(ϵ^2)`$.

As for $`dimH^I(C_m)`$, it follows easily from the discussion in Arbarello et al. \[1, VII B\] that this equals $`\left[\frac{m+2}{2}\right]\left[\frac{m+3}{2}\right]`$ if $`m2g1`$ and $`(g+1)(mg+1)`$ if $`m2g1`$. Hence

$`dimH^I(_n^g)`$
$`=`$ $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{g+2}{3}\right)+{\displaystyle \underset{d=1}{\overset{\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]}{}}}(g+1)(g2d+n)+{\displaystyle \underset{d=\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]+1}{\overset{\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]+g}{}}}\left(gd+1+\left[\frac{n1}{2}\right]\right)\left(gd+1+\left[\frac{n}{2}\right]\right).`$
On the other hand,

$$dim[\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ]/I_n^g=\underset{r,s,t}{}\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}1}$$

where the right-hand sum runs over all non-negative $`r,s,t`$ such that $`tg`$ and $`r+3s+3t3g3+n`$ or $`r+2s+2t<2g2+n`$. This can be re-written as

$`{\displaystyle \underset{t=0}{\overset{g}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{s=0}{\overset{g1+\left[\frac{n}{2}\right]t}{}}}{\displaystyle \underset{r=0}{\overset{\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{max}(3g3+n3s3t,}{2g3+n2s2t)}}{}}}1`$
$`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{t=0}{\overset{g}{}}}\left({\displaystyle \underset{s=0}{\overset{g1t}{}}}(3g2+n3s3t)+{\displaystyle \underset{s=0}{\overset{g1+\left[\frac{n}{2}\right]t}{}}}(2g2+n2s2t)\right).`$
It is straightforward, using high-school algebra and the identities $`_{d=1}^kd=k^2/2+k/2`$ and $`_{d=1}^kd^2=k^3/3+k^2/2+k/6`$, to show that this equals the above formula for $`dimH^I(_n^g)`$. .  $`\mathrm{}`$

Proof of (2). The two results above show that the ideal $`I(_n^g)`$ of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$-invariant relations on $`_n^g`$ is precisely $`I_n^g`$. Now apply (11). .  $`\mathrm{}`$

## 13  Relationship with other papers

The present paper is closely related to several other works by the authors; in this final section we indicate briefly a few of the points of contact.

The first author has constructed a compactification $`\overline{}_n`$ of the moduli space of Higgs bundles , by adding a divisor $`Z_n`$ at infinity which is a quotient by $`T=^\times `$ of an open subset of $`_n`$. Indeed, $`\overline{}_n`$ itself is a quotient by $`T`$ of $`_n\times `$. Many of the constructions given herein apply to $`\overline{}_n`$ and $`Z_n`$. In particular, there are direct limits $`\overline{}_{\mathrm{}}`$ and $`Z_{\mathrm{}}`$. Just as $`_{\mathrm{}}`$ is shown in (9.7) of our previous paper  to be homotopy equivalent to $`B\overline{𝒢}`$, we expect $`\overline{}_{\mathrm{}}`$, and also $`Z_{\mathrm{}}`$, to be homotopy equivalent to $`B𝒢`$, the classifying space of the full gauge group.

The cohomology rings of $`\overline{}_{\mathrm{}}`$ and $`Z_{\mathrm{}}`$, and hence those of $`\overline{}_n`$ and $`Z_n`$, will have generators like those of $`_n`$, but with one additional generator $`hH^2`$, corresponding to the class discarded in the proof of (10.1) of our previous paper. Indeed, the quotient map $`H_T^{}(_n)H^{}(Z_n)`$ is surjective, and $`h`$ is the image of $`u`$. It can be shown that the kernel is the image in $`H_T^{}(_n)`$ of the compactly supported cohomology. The relations between the generators in $`H^{}(Z_n)`$ are therefore of two types: those coming from relations in $`H_T^{}(_n)`$, and those coming from the compactly supported cohomology. The former are covered by the results of this paper. As for the latter, they ought to be determined by the results of another paper of the first author , in which the intersection pairings between the cohomology and the compactly supported cohomology of $`_0`$ were computed (and shown to vanish).

By studying the stratification of $`_{\mathrm{}}`$ by the HN type of the underlying bundle $`E`$ — not $`(E,\varphi )`$ — in the rank 2 case, the first author has been able to extract the relations in the cohomology of the lowest stratum, which retracts onto $`𝒩`$. This recovers the description of the ring $`H^{}(𝒩)`$, given by several authors , in an especially simple and geometrical fashion. It will be described in a forthcoming paper , where it will also be shown how consideration of the Mumford conjecture leads to a natural geometrical proof of the generation theorem for the moduli space of Higgs bundles in ranks 2 and 3.

The second author has studied moduli problems providing smooth resolutions of the upward and downward flows from the components of the fixed-point set of $`_n`$ in the rank 2 case. The downward flow is intriguing because it can be interpreted as a master space of Bradlow pairs, but the upward flow is particularly related to the present paper. It is relatively simple to describe, but it contains the parts of $`H^{}(_n)`$ not invariant under $`\mathrm{\Sigma }=_2^{2g}`$, in the sense that none of them are killed by the restriction map. These upward flows can therefore be used to complete the description of the cohomology rings $`H^{}(_n)`$, by characterizing the part not invariant under $`\mathrm{\Sigma }`$. In fact this is not so difficult, since for dimension reasons these classes have square 0, and are killed by the $`\psi _j`$. So the products with $`\alpha `$ and $`\beta `$ are all that must be computed. Details will appear in a forthcoming paper .