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I want to show that if $M_g$ is a compact Riemann surface of genus $g$, then $$\hom_{\textrm{Grp}}(\pi_1(M_g),\mathbb{R})\cong \mathbb{R}^{2g}.$$ I already know that $$\pi_1(M_g)=\langle a_1,b_1,\dotsc,a_g,b_g\:|\:[a_1,b_1]\cdots[a_g,b_g]=e\rangle.$$

In the end this is just a group theory result. However I can't seem to prove it. It may help that this isomorphism is even a vector space isomorphism.

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1 Answer 1

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As $\Bbb R$ is an Abelian group, each map from $\pi_1(M)$ to $\Bbb R$ factors through the map $\pi_1(M)\to\pi_1(M)^{\text{ab}}$, the Abelianisation of $\pi_1(M)$. This is the Abelian group with the "same" presentation as $\pi_1(M)$. This means that $\pi_1(M)^{\text{ab}}$ is the free Abelian group on $2g$ generators, so isomorphic to $\Bbb Z^{2g}$. Then $$H^1(M,\Bbb R)\cong\text{Hom}(\Bbb Z^{2g},\Bbb R)\cong\Bbb R^{2g}.$$

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