The $SU(2)$-character varieties of torus knots

Abstract

Let $G$ be the fundamental group of the complement of the torus knot of type $(m,n)$. We study the relationship between $SU(2)$ and $\sldos$-representations of this group, looking at their characters. Using the description of the character variety of $G$, $X(G)$, we give a geometric description of $Y(G)\subset X(G)$, the set of characters arising from $SU(2)$-representations.