Asymptotic geometry of the mapping class group and Teichmüller space (Q860165): Difference between revisions

The author studies the asymptotic geometry of the mapping class group and Teichmüller space. He obtains information concerning the topology of their asymptotic cones. Recently, \textit{C. Drutu} and \textit{M. Sapir} [Topology 44, No. 5, 959--1058 (2005; Zbl 1101.20025)] showed that any group which is relatively hyperbolic has cut-points in its asymptotic cone. They asked whether this property of having asymptotic cut-points gives a characterization of such groups. The author proves the following Theorem. If \(S\) is any surface and \(\text{Cone}_\omega(MCG(S))\) is any asymptotic cone, then every point of \(\text{Cone}_\omega(MCG(S))\) is a global cut-point. Similary one obtains global cut-points in each asymptotic cone of Teichmüller space with the Weil-Petersson metric. There are also some other specific results on the asymptotic geometry of the mapping class group. The above results are produced by analyzing the complex of curves, a simplicial complex encoding intersection patterns of curves on a surface.