On coefficients, potentially abelian quotients, and residual irreducibility of compatible systems
Let $\{ρ_λ:G_K\rightarrow GL_n(\overline E_λ)\}$ be a semisimple E-rational compatible system of a number field K. In a first step, building upon the theory of pseudocharacters [Ro96],[Ch14], we attach to each $ρ_λ$ an algebraic monodromy group $G_λ$ defined over $E_λ$ and also prove that the compatible system can be descended to a strongly E'-rational compatible system $\{ρ_{λ'}: G_K\rightarrow GL_n(E'_{λ'})\}$ for some finite extension E'/E. Secondly, we demonstrate that the maximal potentially abelian quotient of $G_λ$ is independent of $λ$ in a strong sense. Finally, as an application, we generalize a result of Patrikis--Snowden--Wiles on residual irreducibility of compatible systems.