Some groups having only elementary actions on metric spaces with hyperbolic boundaries. (Q1826906)

The authors consider the following class of groups. Let \(S\) be a subset of a group \(\Gamma\) and \(P\) a property of groups. Define a graph, called the \(P\)-graph of \(S\), which has \(S\) as the vertex set and two vertices \(s_1\) and \(s_2\) are joined by an edge if and only if the group generated by \(s_1\) and \(s_2\) has the property \(P\). For \(P\) the authors consider the properties of: commutation (C), nilpotency (N), not containing a non-Abelian free semigroup (NoFS2), and not containing a non-Abelian free subgroup (NoF2). Let \(\mathcal A\) (respectively, \(\mathcal B\)) be the class of groups which are generated by a set \(S\) whose NoFS2-graph is connected (respectively, whose NoF2-graph is connected). Let \(\overline X\) be a hyperbolic bordification of a complete metric space \((X,d)\) and such that isometries of \(X\) extend to homeomorphisms of \(\overline X\). A sequence of isometries \(\{g_n\}^\infty_{n=0}\) is called `unbounded' if \(d(g_nx,x)\) is unbounded in \(n\) for some (or any) \(x\), and a single isometry \(g\) is called `unbounded' if \(g_n:=g^n\) is unbounded. In the paper under review are proved the following. Theorem 1. Let \(\Gamma\) be a group in \(\mathcal A\) and assume that \(\Gamma\) acts on \(X\) by isometries such that the elements in \(S\) are unbounded. Then \(\Gamma\) fixes a point in \(\partial X\). If there are two fixed points, then the action is in addition elementary (i.e. the limit set of any orbit consists of at most two points). Theorem 2. Let \(\Gamma\) be a group in \(\mathcal B\) and assume that \(\Gamma\) acts on \(X\) by isometries such that the elements in \(S\) are unbounded. Suppose, moreover, that every two elements in \(S\) generate a metrically proper action. Then the action of \(\Gamma\) is elementary and \(\Gamma\) fixes a point in \(\partial X\). There is also discussed the problem of hyperbolic bordifications with examples. Moreover, the authors consider as examples the groups \(\text{SL}(n,\mathbb{Z})\) and \(\text{SL}(n,\mathbb{R})\) for \(n\geq 3\), braid groups \(B_n\) for \(n\geq 5\), mapping class groups \(\text{Mod}(\Sigma_g)\) for \(g\geq 2\) and others.