A positive characterization of rational maps (Q2193961)

A topological branched self-cover of the sphere \(S^2\) consists of a finite set of points \(P \subset S^2\) and a map \(f: (S^2,P) \to (S^2, P)\) which is an orientation-preserving covering map when restricted to the complement of the preimage \(f^{-1}(P)\) of \(P\), so \(f\) is a branched cover such that \(f(P) \subset P\) and \(P\) contains all critical values of \(f\) (in particular, \(P\) contains the post-critical set of \(f\), i.e., the orbit of the critical points under iteration of \(f\)). A source of examples are the post-critically finite (i.e., with finite post-critical set) rational maps \(f(z) = P(z)/Q(z)\) of the Riemann sphere \(\widehat{\mathbb C} = \mathbb C \mathbb P^1\). The basic question considered in the present paper is then the following: when is a topological branched self-cover \(f\) of the sphere equivalent to a post-critically finite rational map? An answer was given by William Thurston in 1982, obtaining a negative characterization: there is a certain combinatorial object (an annular obstruction) that exists exactly when \(f\) is not equivalent to a rational map (see [\textit{A. Douady} and \textit{J. H. Hubbard}, Acta Math. 171, No. 2, 263--297 (1993; Zbl 0806.30027)]). In the present paper, a complementary positive criterion is given: a combinatorial object exists exactly when \(f\) is equivalent to a rational map. The branched self-cover is equivalent to a rational map if and only if there is an elastic graph spine for the complement of the post-critical set that gets ``looser'' under backwards iteration. As the author notes, compared with the previous result mentioned above, the main result of the present paper makes it easier to prove that a map is rational, by just exhibiting an elastic graph spine \(G\) and a suitable map in the homotopy class of a certain virtual endomorphism \(\phi_G^n\) between such graph spines. In the 12-page introduction, the author gives a careful exposition of the concepts and methods of the present paper which completes a program laid out in a research report by the author [Res. Math. Sci. 3, Paper No. 15, 49 p. (2016; Zbl 1360.37119)].