Fricke spaces (Q1096755)

The paper offers the first full and systematic presentation of Fricke spaces \({\mathcal F}_{p,n}={\mathcal F}(X)\), where X is a topological oriented surface of type (p,n) with \(a=2p-2+n>0.\) The elements of \({\mathcal F}(X)\) are the same classes [f] of orientation preserving homeomorphisms \(f: X\to f(X)=S\)- a Riemann surface, as by the Teichmüller space \({\mathcal T}_{p,n}\) and so are the allowable maps, the modular group (here called Fricke) \({\mathcal F}{\mathcal M}_{p,n}={\mathcal F}{\mathcal M}(X)\), but the exposition is freed by quasiconformality and based only on surface topology, representation \(X=U/G\) with U the upper-half plane and G a torsion-free Fuchsian group, Poincaré metric, in the tradition of Fricke and Klein. The topology is introduced in \({\mathcal F}(X)\) as the weakest which makes continuous all maps: \([f]\mapsto \ell_{[f]}(C)\), where C is a closed curve on X and \(\ell_{[f]}(C)=\inf\) of the Poincaré lengths of all closed curves on S freely homotopic to f(C). A lemma on continuity of maps from PSL(2,\({\mathbb{R}})\) as functions of the absolute trace of a finite number of convenient maps permits to obtain a first homeomorphism of \({\mathcal F}_{p,n}\) into \({\mathbb{R}}\) \(N_+\), \({\mathbb{R}}_+=\{x\in {\mathbb{R}}\), \(x>0\}\), N-sufficiently large. Covering space theory, ends-punctures or holes- and collars, Nielsen core and extension, Dehn twists, ordered maximal partition of X by \(d=3p-3+n\) Jordan partition curves (with specific properties) into triply connected regions, properties of geodesics on X - endowed with conformal structure hence with the Poincaré metric, de Rham's lemma on fundamental polygons, all lead to the definition of the reduced Fenchel-Nielsen maps \(\Phi: {\mathcal F}(X)\to ({\mathbb{C}}\quad *)\quad d\times ({\mathbb{R}}_+\cup \{0\})\quad n,\) the construction of a special fundamental polygon for f(X) associated to \(\Phi\) ([f]), and the main results: I. A new metric for \({\mathcal F}_{p,n}\) consistent with its topology and invariant under \({\mathcal F}{\mathcal M}_{p,n}\) is introduced; II. \({\mathcal F}{\mathcal M}_{p,n}\) acts properly discontinuously on \({\mathcal F}_{p,n}\); III. \(\Phi\) is a universal covering, hence \(\Phi =\exp \circ \Psi\), where \(\Psi: {\mathcal F}(X)\to_{onto}{\mathbb{C}}\quad d\times ({\mathbb{R}}_+\cup \{0\})\quad n\) is a homeomorphism induced by an ordered maximal partition of X and called the Fenchel-Nielsen map; IV. The Teichmüller space (called ``reduced'' by the author in Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 5, 131-172 (1981; Zbl 0485.30002)) \({\mathcal T}_{p,\nu,n-\nu}\) as a subset of \({\mathcal F}_{p,n}\) is a \(2d+(n-\nu)\)-manifold and \({\mathcal F}_{p,n}=\sum^{n}_{\nu =0}\left( \begin{matrix} n\\ \nu \end{matrix} \right){\mathcal T}_{p,\nu,n-\nu},\) where \(\sum\) means disjoint union. The paper is masterly written, self-contained and clear, accessible for all who wish to study thoroughly the subject.