A generalized spectral correspondence

Abstract: We establish a strong categorical correspondence between isomorphism classes of sheaves of arbitrary rank on one algebraic curve and twisted pairs on another algebraic curve. In a particular application, we realize a generic elliptic curve as a spectral cover of the complex projective line $\mathbb{P}^1$ and then construct examples of semistable co-Higgs bundles over $\mathbb{P}^1$ as pushforwards of locally-free sheaves of certain small ranks over the elliptic curve. By appealing to a composite push-pull projection formula, we conjecture an iterated version of the spectral correspondence. We prove this conjecture for a particular class of spectral covers of $\mathbb {P}^1$. The proof relies upon a classification of Galois groups into primitive and imprimitive types. In this context, we revisit a century-old theorem of J.F. Ritt.