Divergence of geodesics in Teichmüller space and the mapping class group (Q1047123)

Applying combinatorial models from the curve complex and techniques from geometric group theory, the paper under review studies the coarse geometry of Teichmüller space and the mapping class group. Let \(S\) be a surface of genus \(g\) with \(p\) punctures such that \(3g+p>4.\) Let \(X\) be either the Teichmüller space of \(S\) with the Teichmüller metric or the mapping class group of \(S\) with a word metric from a finite generating set. For any pair of geodesic rays \(\gamma_1(t),\gamma_2(t)\) in \(X\) starting at the same point \(x\), their divergence \(\text{div\,}(\gamma_1,\gamma_2,t)\) at time \(t\) is defined as the distance of the two points \(\gamma_1(t)\) and \(\gamma_2(t)\) in \(X\) but out of the open ball of radius \(t\) centered at \(x\). Theorem A: There exist constants \(a,b\) depending only on \(g, p\) such that \(\text{div\,}(\gamma_1,\gamma_2,t)\leq at^2+b\), \(\forall t\). Theorem B: For any \(x\in X\), there exists a pair of rays \(\gamma_1(t),\gamma_2(t)\) starting at \(x\) and constants \(c,d\) depending only on \(g, p\) such that \(\frac1ct^2-d\leq \text{div\,}(\gamma_1,\gamma_2,t)\leq ct^2+d\), \( \forall t.\)