Geometrisation of purely hyperbolic representations in \(\mathrm{PSL}_2\mathbb{R}\) (Q2664127)

The main result of the paper under review is the following theorem: Theorem. Let \(\rho:\pi_1S \rightarrow {PSL}_2\mathbb{R}\) be a non-Fuchsian, purely hyperbolic and non-elementary representation. Then \(\rho\) is geometrisable by a branched hyperbolic structure if and only if \(\rho(\pi_1S)\) is cocompact and the map \(f:S \rightarrow \Sigma=\mathbb{H}^2/\rho(\pi_1S)\) is not homotopic to a pinch map. Here, geometrisable means that the representation arises as the holonomy of a branched hyperbolic structure on \(S\) and purely hyperbolic means that its image consists only of hyperbolic elements along with the identity. And \(f:S \rightarrow \Sigma\) is called a pinch map if there are two simple closed non-contractible curves \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) meeting transversally at a single point such that \(f(\alpha)\) and \(f(\beta)\) are contractible in \(\Sigma\). The paper is very readable because it includes not only self-contained explanations but also helpful and motivating examples.