In joint work with Ajneet Dhillon, we find upper bounds for the essential dimension of various moduli stacks of SL_n-bundles over a curve. When n is a prime power, our calculation computes the essential dimension of the moduli stack of stable bundles exactly and the essential dimension is not equal to the dimension in this case.

Suppose $f_1,f_2,\ldots,f_n$ are linear polynomials in $\ell$ variables and $\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\ldots,\lambda_n$ are nonzero complex numbers. The product $$ \Phi_\lambda=\Prod_{i=1}^n f_1^{\lambda_i}, $$ called a master function, defines a (multivalued) function on $\ell$-dimensional complex space, or more precisely, on the complement of a set of hyperplanes. Then it is easy to ask (but harder to answer) what the set of critical points of a master function looks like, in terms of some properties of the input polynomials and $\lambda_i$'s. In my talk I will describe the motivation for considering such a question. Then I will indicate how the geometry and combinatorics of hyperplane arrangements can be used to provide at least a partial answer.