Gaiotto Loci and the Nilpotent Cone for $\mathrm{Sp}_{2n}(\mathbb C)$

Abstract

Fix a theta characteristic on a compact Riemann surface and let $G$ be a connected complex semisimple Lie group equipped with a symplectic representation. The moment map sends a nonzero spinor with values in the associated representation bundle to a $G$-Higgs field, and the Zariski closure of the stable Higgs bundles obtained in this way is the corresponding Gaiotto locus. For an arbitrary symplectic representation, the Gaiotto locus is isotropic, and we give a Petri-type criterion for it to be Lagrangian. For the standard representation of $\mathrm{Sp}_{2n}(\mathbb C)$, with $n\geq 2$, where the moment map is $\psi\mapsto\psi\otimes\psi$, the Gaiotto locus lies in the nilpotent cone. We prove that it is the irreducible component obtained as the Bialynicki-Birula closure associated with $\mathcal U(\mathrm{Sp}_{2n-2}(\mathbb C))$. Its intersection with the stable cotangent chart is the closure of the conormal bundle to the one-spinor stratum of the generalized theta divisor.