On automorphisms of semistable G-bundles with decorations

Abstract: We prove a rigidity result for automorphisms of points of certain stacks admitting adequate moduli spaces. It encompasses as special cases variations of the moduli of $G$-bundles on a smooth projective curve for a reductive algebraic group $G$. For example, our result applies to the stack of semistable $G$-bundles, stacks of semistable Hitchin pairs, and stacks of semistable parabolic $G$-bundles. Similar arguments apply to Gieseker semistable $G$-bundles in higher dimensions. We present two applications of the main result. First, we show that in characteristic $0$ every stack of semistable decorated $G$-bundles admitting a quasiprojective good moduli space can be written naturally as a $G$-linearized global quotient $Y/G$, so the moduli problem can be interpreted as a GIT problem. Secondly, we give a proof that the stack of semistable meromorphic $G$-Higgs bundles on a family of curves is smooth over any base in characteristic $0$.