Distance and angles between Teichmüller geodesics (Q2281326): Difference between revisions

Let \(S\) be a surface of genus \(g\) with \(n\) punctures such that \(3g-3+n>1\) and let \(\mathcal{T}(S)\) be the corresponding Teichmüller space. Teichmüller space carries the Teichmüller metric and the metric properties of \(\mathcal{T}(S)\) have been extensively studied. Of particular relevance here are that the Teichmüller metric is a Finsler metric, but not a Riemannian metric, and that \(\mathcal{T}(S)\) is not a metric space of non-positive curvature [\textit{H. Masur}, Ann. Math. (2) 102, 205--221 (1975; Zbl 0322.32010)]. The main result of the paper under review is that, as a metric space, \(\mathcal{T}(S)\) is not a \(\operatorname{CAT}(k)\) space for any \(k\in \mathbb{R}\). This result is achieved by proving that for any \(X \in \mathcal{T}(S)\), there exist two geodesic rays emanating from \(X\) such that the angle between them does not exist. The key idea here is that if all angles did exist, it would imply the existence of a Riemannian structure. The authors also discuss some partial results on conditions when angles do exist and conjecture that they only exist when the rays arise from the same Teichmüller disk. These observations are related to a recent result in [\textit{S. Antonakoudis}, Invent. Math. 207, No. 3, 1289--1299 (2017; Zbl 1375.32027)], that every totally geodesic isometry from the Poincaré disk into \(\mathcal{T}(S)\) is a Teichmüller disk.