Generic leaves (Q1392749)

A recent result of \textit{E. Ghys} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 141, No. 2, 387-422 (1995; Zbl 0843.57026)] is: for any measure \(\mu\) on a compact, foliated metric space, \(\mu\)-almost every leaf has 0,1,2 or a Cantor set of ends. The aim of this paper is to show that there exists an analogue for every complete foliated metric space \((X, {\mathcal F})\) which contains a totally recurrent leaf. The authors give in detail a demonstration of the following two theorems: (I) Let \((X, {\mathcal F})\) be a complete, foliated metric space. If \({\mathcal F}\) has a totally recurrent leaf, then there is a residual family \(G\) of totally recurrent leaves without holonomy such that one of the following holds: (1) every leaf in \(G\) has a Cantor set of ends; (2) every leaf in \(G\) has exactly two ends; (3) every leaf in \(G\) has exactly one end. If, in addition, the leaf dimension is \(p=2\), either all leaves in \(G\) have genus 0, or all leaves \(L\) in \(G\) are orientable and have only nonplanar ends, or all leaves \(L\) in \(G\) have only nonorientable ends. Let \({\mathcal E}_d (L)\) be the set of dense ends of the topologically generic leaf \(L\). Then (II) If \((X, {\mathcal F})\) is a complete, foliated metric space, a residual family \(G\) has the property that its leaves have 0,1,2 or a Cantor set of dense ends, the cardinality of \({\mathcal E}_d (L)\) being constant as \(L\) varies over \(G\). If the leaf dimension is 2, the dense ends of the leaves in \(G\) are either all planar, all orientable but nonplanar, or all nonorientable. Some applications to closed, \(C^2\)-foliated manifolds of codimension one are presented. Finally, five examples are examined.