The Deligne–Simpson problem for connections on G_m with a maximally ramified singularity

The classical additive Deligne–Simpson problem is the existence problem for Fuchsian connections with residues at the singular points in specified adjoint orbits. Crawley-Boevey found the solution in 2003 by reinterpreting the problem in terms of quiver varieties. A more general version of this problem, solved by Hiroe, allows additional unramified irregular singularities. We apply the theory of fundamental and regular strata due to Bremer and Sage to formulate a version of the Deligne–Simpson problem in which certain ramified singularities are allowed. These allowed singular points are called toral singularities; they are singularities whose leading term with respect to a lattice chain filtration is regular semisimple. We solve this problem in the special case of connections on G_m with a maximally ramified singularity at 0 and possibly an additional regular singular point at infinity. Examples of such connections arise from Airy, Bessel, and Kloosterman differential equations. They play an important role in recent work in the geometric Langlands program. We also give a complete characterization of all such connections which are rigid, under the additional hypothesis of unipotent monodromy at infinity.