Automorphisms of moduli spaces of principal bundles over a smooth curve

Abstract

For any almost-simple group $G$ over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic zero, we describe the automorphism group of the moduli space of semistable $G$-bundles over a connected smooth projective curve $C$ of genus at least $4$. The result is achieved by studying the singular fibers of the Hitchin fibration. As a byproduct, we provide a description of the irreducible components of two natural closed subsets in the Hitchin basis: the divisor of singular cameral curves and the divisor of singular Hitchin fibers.

Section 7 partially rewritten due to a mistake in the earlier version pointed out by the anonymous referee. Final Version. To appear on Int. J. Math