Isomonodromy equations on algebraic curves, canonical transformations and Whitham equations

The Hamiltonian theory of isomonodromy equations for meromorphic connections with irregular singularities on algebraic curves is constructed. An explicit formula for the symplectic structure on the space of monodromy and Stokes matrices is obtained. The Whitham equations for the isomonodromy equations are derived. It is shown that they provide a flat connection on the space of the spectral curves of the Hitchin systems.