Quotient groups of the fundamental groups of certain strata of the moduli space of quadratic differentials (Q969687): Difference between revisions

The author takes steps toward the calculation of the fundamental groups of certain manifolds arising naturally in Teichmüller theory. More precisely, the space \({\mathcal Q}_g\) of quadratic differentials over Teichmüller space \({\mathcal T}_g\) and the space \(\overline{{\mathcal Q}}_g\) of quadratic differentials over moduli space \({\mathcal M}_g\) can be stratified in a natural way as follows. Let \(\lambda= (k_1,\dots, k_n)\) be a partition of \(4g- 4\). Define \({\mathcal Q}_\lambda={\mathcal Q}_g(k_1,\dots, k_n)\) to be the subset of \({\mathcal Q}_g\) of quadratic differentials with \(n\) zeroes of order \(k_1,\dots, k_n\). Define \(\overline{{\mathcal Q}}_\lambda\) analogously. These spaces are manifolds whose fundamental groups are to be studied. The author embeds the space \({\mathcal Q}_\lambda\) into a larger configuration space \(X\) (a bundle over \({\mathcal T}_g\) with fibers a restricted symmetry group), and thereby obtains a homomorphism \(\pi_1({\mathcal Q}_\lambda)\to \pi_1(X)\). The author then maps \(X\) into a third space \(Y\) (a bundle over \({\mathcal T}_g\) with fibers a Picard space) by a map motivated by algebraic geometry called the Abel-Jacobi map, which takes a divisor to its associated line bundle. The image of \(\pi_1({\mathcal Q}_\lambda)\) is always a subgroup of the kernel of \(\pi_1(X)\to \pi_1(Y)\) and is often equal to that kernel. The author then finds generators for the kernel. The analysis depends on techniques for modifying quadratic differentials locally in a controlled way, which the author calls surgery. Thus, although the fundamental groups of \({\mathcal Q}_\lambda\) and \(\overline{{\mathcal Q}}_\lambda\) are not calculated precisely, a number of their quotient groups are calculated.