On existence of quasi-Strebel structures for meromorphic \(k\)-differentials (Q2077242)

A meromorphic differential \(\Psi\) of order \(k\geq 2\) on a compact orientable Riemann surface \(Y\) without boundary is a meromorphic section of the \(k\)-th tensor power \((T^{*}_{\mathbb{C}}Y)^{\otimes k}\) of the holomorphic cotangent bundle of \(Y\). Zeros and poles of \(\Psi\) constitute the set of critical points. For a differential of order \(k\) given locally by \(f(z)dz^{k}\) in a neighborhood of a non-critical point, there are \(k\) locally distinct directions, called \textit{horizontal}, which are given by the conditions that \(f(z)dz^{k}\) is real and positive. Recall that a quadratic differential is called \textit{Strebel} if almost all horizontal trajectories are closed. Such a phenomenon can never happen for a \(k\)-differential of order \(k\geq 3\) unless it is a power of a \(1\)-form or a quadratic differential. The authors introduce thus the notion of quasi-Strebel structure and give sufficient conditions for a meromorphic \(k\)-differential to be quasi-Strebel. The main result is the following: \textbf{Theorem 1.} Let \(\Psi\) be a meromorphic \(k\)-differential such that \begin{itemize} \item no poles have of order smaller than \(-k\); \item at a pole of order \(-k\), the residue belongs to \(i^{k}\mathbb{R}\). \end{itemize} Then, \begin{itemize} \item[1.] if \(k>2\) is even, then \(\Psi\) has a quasi-Strebel structure; \item[2.] if \(k>2\) is odd, and, up to a common factor, the period of \(\sqrt[k]{\Psi}\) along every path connecting any two singularities of \(\Psi\) belongs to \(\mathbb{Q}[e^{\frac{2i\pi}{k}}]\), then \(\Psi\) has a quasi-Strebel structure. \end{itemize}