Nielsen methods and groups acting on hyperbolic spaces (Q1397918)

The authors prove the following Theorem: For any integer \(n>0\) there exists a constant \(C(n)\) with the following property. Suppose that a group \(G\) generated by elements \(g_1,\dots,g_n\) acts by isometries on a \(\delta\)-hyperbolic geodesic metric space \((X,d)\), with \(\delta>0\). Then one of the following holds: (1) The group \(G\) is free on \(M=(g_1,\dots,g_n)\), and if \(G\) is endowed with the free group word metric, then, for any \(x\in X\), the map \(G\to X\) defined by \(h\mapsto hx\) is a quasi-isometric embedding. (2) The ordered generating set \(M=(g_1,\dots,g_n)\) is Nielsen-equivalent to an ordered generating set \(M'=(f_1,\dots,f_n)\) satisfying \(d(f_1(y),y)<\delta C(n)\) for some \(y\in X\). This generalizes a result stated by \textit{M. Gromov} as Theorem 5.3.A [in Hyperbolic groups, Essays in group theory, Publ. Math. Sci. Res. Inst. 8, 75-263 (1987; Zbl 0634.20015)]. The authors' proof uses heavily Nielsen's transformation techniques.