$SU(2)$-representations of Branched Covers

Abstract: We study the existence of irreducible $SU(2)$-representations for cyclic branched covers of knots in $S<sup>3$. Our main result establishes that if $K$ is a non-trivial prime knot and $d$ is an integer such that $d \geq 2$ and $\Sigma_d(K)$ is an integer homology sphere, then $\pi_1(\Sigma_d(K))$ admits an irreducible $SU(2)$-representation, whenever $K$ satisfies one of two conditions: either $K$ is $2$-periodic, or $K$ can be represented as the closure of a tangle adapted to a $d\times d$ SICUP matrix. The first condition leverages a commuting trick for covering spaces to realize higher-degree branched covers as 2-fold covers, allowing us to apply recent results of Kronheimer-Mrowka and others. The second condition uses equivariant surgery descriptions and the $\nu<sup>\sharp$ invariant from instanton Floer homology. As applications, we provide new infinite families of hyperbolic integer homology spheres admitting irreducible representations, including examples where previously known criteria fail.