Higher spin mapping class groups and strata of abelian differentials over Teichmüller space (Q2048634)

In this paper, the authors obtain a complete classification of the connected components of the strata of abelian differentials over the Teichmüller space of closed surfaces of genus \(g\geq 5\), establishing an analogue of the Kontsevich-Zorich classification of components over moduli space. Building on previous work done by the first author [Comment. Math. Helv. 95, No. 2, 361--420 (2020; Zbl 1447.57018)] on a partial classification, they obtain a complete classification of nonhyperelliptic components by \(r\)-spin structures, which are certain \(\mathbb{Z}/r\mathbb{Z}\)-valued functions on the set of isotopy classes of oriented simple closed curves. The work is based on the computation of a certain monodromy group with values in the mapping class group. The authors also determine explicit finite generating sets for all \(r\)-spin stabilizer subgroups of the mapping class group, completing a project begun by the second author [Invent. Math. 216, No. 1, 153--213 (2019; Zbl 1440.57028)]. Some corollaries in flat geometry and toric geometry are obtained from these results. The paper contains explicit monodromy calculations which give, as a corollary, a complete characterization of which curves can be realized as embedded Euclidean cylinders on some surface in a given connected component of a stratum. They also obtain results on the monodromy of line bundles on toric surfaces.