Arithmetic Characteristic Curves

Abstract

For a split reductive group defined over a number field, we first introduce the notations of arithmetic torsors and arithmetic Higgs torsors. Then we construct arithmetic characteristic curves associated to arithmetic Higgs torsors, based on the Chevalley characteristic morphism and the existence of Chevalley basis for the associated Lie algebra. As to be expected, this work is motivated by the works of Beauville-Narasimhan on spectral curves and Donagi-Gaistgory on cameral curves in algebraic geometry. In the forthcoming papers, we will use arithmetic characteristic curves to construct arithmetic Hitchin fibrations and study the intersection homologies and perverse sheaves for the associated structures, following Ngo's approach to the fundamental lemma.