Tree-graded asymptotic cones. (Q374107)

Tree-graded spaces were introduced by \textit{C. Druţu} and \textit{M. Sapir} [Topology 44, No. 5, 959-1058 (2005; Zbl 1101.20025)] to describe the large scale geometry of relatively hyperbolic groups. This description is achieved via the asymptotic cones of a group which carry a natural tree-graded structure. By studying the bilipschitz equivalence type of tree-graded spaces, the author shows that asymptotic cones of relatively hyperbolic groups (resp. asymptotic cones of groups containing a cut-point) only depend on the bilipschitz equivalence types of the pieces in the standard (resp. minimal) tree-graded structure. In particular, this implies that if a group \(G\) is hyperbolic relative to a subgroup \(H\) and the asymptotic cones of \(H\) are all bilipschitz equivalent, then so are the asymptotic cones of \(G\). This consideration applies in particular to the case when \(G\) is the fundamental group of a finite volume non-compact manifold of pinched negative curvature. Some other results about the tree-structure of asymptotic cones are also obtained. Part of the results of the paper were obtained independently and simultaneously by \textit{D. Osin} and \textit{M. Sapir} [Int. J. Algebra Comput. 21, No. 5, 793-824 (2011; Zbl 1261.20043)]. This paper is based on the author's Master's thesis ``Tree-graded spaces and relatively hyperbolic groups'' [Univ. Pisa (2010)], the results and methods developed here play an important role in several subsequent papers by the author and related investigations.