Boundaries of geometrically finite groups (Q1291045)

This paper is one of a series in which the author deals with connectedness properties of boundaries of hyperbolic and relatively hyperbolic groups, and their connection with group splittings. The main results of this paper, combined with results appearing elsewhere, give the following Theorem. Suppose that \(\Gamma\) is a relatively hyperbolic group, such that each peripheral subgroup is finitely presented, one- or two-ended, and contains no infinite torsion subgroup. If the boundary of \(\Gamma\) is connected then it is also locally connected. As a consequence, the author proves that if the boundary of a relatively hyperbolic group is connected and has no global cut point, then it is locally connected. This generalizes a result of \textit{M.~Bestvina} and \textit{G.~Mess} in the case where \(\Gamma\) is hyperbolic [which is contained in J. Am. Math. Soc. 4, No. 3, 469-481 (1991; Zbl 0767.20014)]. The author obtains also results on the boundary of \(\Gamma\) in the case where \(\Gamma\) has a separating horoball which is centered at a parabolic fixed point. He shows that in this case, \(\Gamma\) has a ``proper peripheral splitting''.