Essential regularity of the model space for the Weil-Petersson metric (Q1741609)

For \(X\) being a hyperbolic surface of genus \(g<\infty\) having \(n<\infty\) punctures, the associated Teichmüller space, denoted \(\mathcal{T}_X\) is defined as the set of all complex structures on \(X\). The set \(\mathcal{T}_X\), is known to be a complex manifold of dimension \(3g-3+n\). The Weil-Petersson metric on \(\mathcal{T}_X\) is a non-complete Riemannian metric. The metric completion of \(\mathcal{T}_X\), denoted \(\overline{\mathcal{T}_X}\) fails to be a Riemannian manifold but a CAT(0) space, see [\textit{S. Yamada}, Geom. Dedicata 145, 43--63 (2010; Zbl 1189.32008)]. Indeed, the Weil-Petersson metric can be extended to \(\overline{\mathcal{T}_X}\) but is not smooth, see [\textit{H. Masur}, Duke Math. J. 43, 623--635 (1976; Zbl 0358.32017)] for further details. The natural action of the group of self-homeomorphisms of \(X\), i.e., the mapping class group of \(X\), on \(\mathcal{T}_X\) can be extended to \(\overline{\mathcal{T}_X}\). In the search of the extent to which the fundamental group (topological structure) of a Riemannian manifold determines the metric structure, \textit{G. D. Mostow} [Strong rigidity of locally symmetric spaces. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ (1973; Zbl 0265.53039)] showed that two compact locally symmetric Riemannian manifolds of non-positive curvature with isomorphic fundamental groups are isometric when they do not admit a submanifold of dimension 1 or 2 which is locally a direct factor. Yau posed a similar conjecture concerning negatively curved Kähler manifolds by replacing the metric structure with the holomorphic structure. \textit{Y.-T. Siu} verified the conjecture when the manifold in question has strongly negative curvature [Ann. Math. (2) 112, 73--111 (1980; Zbl 0517.53058)]. These rigidity results are extended to the case of symmetric domains when the acting group is favorable, see [\textit{J. Jost} and \textit{S. T. Yau}, Math. Ann. 278, 481--496 (1987; Zbl 0624.32019)] and references therein. The authors establish the proof of the holomorphic rigidity of \(\mathcal{T}_X\) in a series of 3 papers, [Geom. Dedicata 141, 33--57 (2009; Zbl 1177.58013)] and [On the singular set of harmonic maps into DM-complexes. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (2016; Zbl 1331.53093)] being the remaining 2. That is to say (roughly), whenever the mapping class group of an oriented hyperbolic surface of finite type acts on a contractible Kähler manifold then this manifold has to be biholomorphic to \(\mathcal{T}_X\). The whole proof is based on the existence of a harmonic map with extra properties. The paper under review, though interesting on its own, is the second of the series containing a technical part of the proof where the authors study the essential regularity of certain subsets of the model space which they use for the boundary of \(\mathcal{T}_X\).