The image in \(\mathcal{M}_g\) of strata of meromorphic and quadratic differentials (Q2043059)

The moduli space of \(k\)-differentials on smooth complex algebraic curves can be stratified according to the zero and pole orders of a differential. The cases of \(k=1\) (abelian differentials) and \(k=2\) (quadratic differentials) are of particular interest, since there is a \(\mathrm{GL}_2(\mathbb R)\)-action on their strata by varying the flat surface structure induced by an abelian or quadratic differential. The strata of differentials admit a natural forgetful map to the moduli space of curves by forgetting the differentials and remebering the underlying curves only. It is a meaningful question to determine the dimension of the image of each stratum (and its connected components) under this forgetful map. For holomorphic abelian differentials, this question was answered by \textit{Q. Gendron} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 68, No. 3, 1169--1240 (2018; Zbl 1403.14059)]. In this paper the author solves the question for meromorphic abelian differentials as well as for quadratic differentials with at worst simple poles. A key step in the proof is via degeneration to the boundary of the moduli space and check the fiber of the forgetful map over a nodal curve. The author also points out that a similar argument should work for other \(k\)-differentials once the classification of connected components of the strata of \(k\)-differentials is known (which is currently unknown for \(k\geq 3\)).