A compactification of the Hurwitz space (Q1292702)

Let \(\Sigma\) be a closed oriented surface, not necessarily connected, and let \(n\) be a positive integer. The Hurwitz space \(H(\Sigma,n)\) consists of all \(n\)-sheeted simple coverings of the sphere \(S^2\). Here simplicity of a covering means that there are at least \((n-1)\) distinct points over each point of \(S^2\); equivalent coverings are identified. Using so-called decorated functions, introduced in the paper, the authors construct an elementary compactification \(N(\Sigma,n)\) of the Hurwitz space \(H(\Sigma,n)\) and compute its Euler characteristic.