The second cohomology with symmplectic coefficients of the moduli space of smooth projcetive curves

Each finite dimensional irreducible rational representation V of the symplectic group Sp_2g(Q) determines a generically defined local system V over the moduli space M_g of genus g smooth projective curves. We study H² (M_g; V) and the mixed Hodge structure on it. Specifically, we prove that if g 6, then the natural map IH²(M~_g; V) H²(M_g; V) is an isomorphism where M~_{_g} is tfhe Satake compactification of M_g. Using the work of Saito we conclude that the mixed Hodge structure on H²(M_g; V) is pure of weight 2+r if V underlies a variation of Hodge structure of weight r. We also obtain estimates on the weight of the mixed Hodge structure on H²(M_g; V) for 3 g < 6. Results of this article can be applied in the study of relations in the Torelli group T_g.