Branes and moduli spaces of Higgs bundles on smooth projective varieties

Given a smooth complex projective variety \(M\) and a smooth closed curve \(X \subset M\) such that the homomorphism of fundamental groups \(\pi_1(X) \rightarrow \pi_1(M)\) is surjective, we study the restriction map of Higgs bundles, namely from Higgs bundles on \(M\) to those on \(X\). In particular, we investigate the interplay between this restriction map and various types of branes contained in the moduli spaces of Higgs bundles on \(M\) and \(X\). We also consider the set-up where a finite group is acting on \(M\) via holomorphic automorphisms or anti-holomorphic involutions, and the curve \(X\) is preserved by the action. Branes are studied in this context.