Nielsen reduction in free groups with operators
For a knot in the 3-sphere and a regular representation of its group into SU(2) we construct a non abelian Reidemeister torsion form on the first twisted cohomology group of the knot exterior. This non abelian Reidemeister torsion form provides a volume form on the SU(2)-representation space of . In another way, we construct using Casson’s original construction a natural volume form on the SU(2)-representation space of . Next, we compare these two apparently different points of view on the representation...
Let Σ be a closed oriented Riemann surface of genus at least 2. By using symplectic chain complex, we construct a volume element for a Hitchin component of Hom(π₁(Σ),PSLₙ(ℝ))/PSLₙ(ℝ) for n > 2.