We study two types of actions on King's moduli spaces of quiver representations over a field k, and we decompose their fixed loci using group cohomology in order to give modular interpretations of the components. The first type of action arises by considering finite groups of quiver automorphisms. The second is the absolute Galois group of a perfect field k acting on the points of this quiver moduli space valued in an algebraic closure of k; the fixed locus is the set of k-rational points, which we decompose using the Brauer group of k, and we describe the rational points as quiver representations over central division algebras over k. Over the field of complex numbers, we describe the symplectic and holomorphic geometry of these fixed loci in hyperkaehler quiver varieties using the language of branes. Over the reals, the rational points of these quiver moduli spaces come from either real or quaternionic quiver representations, and we compute the Poincaré polynomials of both components.
This is joint work with Florent Schaffhauser.[-]

Following Grothendieck's vision that a motive of an algebraic variety should capture many of its cohomological invariants, Voevodsky introduced a triangulated category of motives which partially realises this idea. After describing some of the properties of this category, I explain how to define the motive of certain algebraic stacks. I will then focus on defining and studying the motive of the moduli stack of vector bundles on a smooth projective curve and show that this motive can be described in terms of the motive of this curve and its symmetric powers. If there is time, I will give a conjectural formula for this motive, and explain how this follows from a conjecture on the intersection theory of certain Quot schemes. This is joint work with Simon Pepin Lehalleur.[-]

Moduli spaces of Higgs bundles for Langlands dual groups are conjecturally related by a form of mirror symmetry. For SL_n and PGL_n, Hausel and Thaddeus conjectured a topological mirror symmetry given by an equality of (twisted orbifold) Hodge numbers, which was proven by Groechenig-Wyss-Ziegler and later by Maulik-Shen. We lift this to an isomorphism of Voevodsky motives, and thus in particular an equality of (twisted orbifold) rational Chow groups. Our method is based on Maulik and Shen's approach to the Hausel-Thaddeus conjecture, as well as showing certain motives are abelian, in order to use conservativity of the Betti realisation on abelian motives. The same idea also enables us to prove a motivic chi-independence result. If there is time, I will explain how motivic nearby cycles can be used to specialise these results to positive characteristic. This is joint work with Simon Pepin Lehalleur.[-]