Commensurability of geometric subgroups of mapping class groups

DOI10.1007/S10711-009-9377-YMaRDI QIDQ845791zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Publication date 29 January 2010

Published in Geometriae Dedicata (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0707.3430

commensurable complex of curves geometric subgroup mapping class group unitary representation virtually abelian

Abstract: Let M be a surface (possibly nonorientable) with punctures and/or boundary components. The paper is a study of ``geometric subgroups of the mapping class group of M, that is subgroups corresponding to inclusions of subsurfaces (possibly disconnected). We characterise the subsurfaces which lead to virtually abelian geometric subgroups. We provide algebraic and geometric conditions under which two geometric subgroups are commensurable. We also describe the commensurator of a geometric subgroup in terms of the stabiliser of the underlying subsurface. Finally, we show some applications of our analysis to the theory of irreducible unitary representations of mapping class groups.

Review text

For a compact surface \(M\), we define the mapping class group \({\mathcal M}(M)\) to be the group of isotopy classes of diffeomorphisms of \(M\). If \(M\) is orientable, we consider only orientation preserving maps as elements of \({\mathcal M}(M)\). A subsurface \(N\) of \(M\) is a closed subset of \(M\) which is a surface. The inclusion of a subsurface \(N\) into \(M\) induces a homomorphism \(i_* : {\mathcal M}(N) \to {\mathcal M}(M)\), and its image \(i_* ({\mathcal M}(N))\) in \({\mathcal M}(M)\) is called a geometric subgroup of \({\mathcal M}(M)\). When \(M\) is orientable and subsurfaces are connected, geometric subgroups were studied by \textit{L. Paris} and \textit{D. Rolfsen} [J. Reine. Angew. Math. 521, 47--83 (2000; Zbl 1007.57014)]. In the paper under review, the author extends their analysis to the case where \(M\) can be nonorientable and subsurfaces can be disconnected. The author shows the following. (1) When a subsurface \(N\) is essential, the kernel of \(i_*\) can be described as in Theorem 3.6. (2) In Theorem 5.1, it is shown that, when a subsurface is essential, \(i_*({\mathcal M}(M))\) is virtually abelian if and only if \(N\) is a disjoint union of Klein bottles with one hole, skirts (Möbius band with one hole or puncture), pantalons (disks with three holes or punctures), and annuli. (3) For commensurable geometric subgroups \(i_*({\mathcal M}(N_0))\) and \(i_*({\mathcal M}(N_1))\), when the generic subsurfaces \(N_0\) and \(N_1\) have no common connected components up to isotopy, an algebraic characterization of \(i_*({\mathcal M}(N_0))\) and \(i_*({\mathcal M}(N_1))\) is described in Theorem 6.3, and a geometric characterization of \(N_0\) and \(N_1\) is described in Theorem 7.1. Moreover, a geometric characterization for a more general case is described in Theorem 7.3. (4) In Theorem 8.3, it is shown that the commensurator of \(i_*({\mathcal M}(N))\) is equal to a modified stabilizer of \(N\), and, in Theorem 8.4, the exact relationship between the commensurator of \(i_*({\mathcal M}(N))\) and the stabilizer of \(N\) is described when \(N\) is injective. (4) In section 9, by applying the above results to the action of \({\mathcal M}(M)\) on the reduced complex of curves, the set of equivalence classes of irreducible unitary representations of \({\mathcal M}(M)\) is investigated following the work of \textit{L. Paris} [Math. Ann. 322, No.~2, 301--315 (2002; Zbl 1016.57014)].

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