Contractible, hyperbolic but non-CAT(0) complexes (Q2216468)

Let \(S_{g,p}\) denote an orientable surface with genus \(g\) and \(p\) punctures/marked points. In this paper, the author investigates whether several complexes satisfy a linear combinatorial isoperimetric inequality or not. Moreover, he points out that A. Putman asked the question whether the curve complex satisfies a linear combinatorial isoperimetric inequality, and mentioned that this does not immediately follow from hyperbolicity. Let \(K\) be one of the following complexes: \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] The arc complex \(\mathcal{A}(S_{g,p})\), where \(g \geq 2\) and \(p \geq 2\), or, \(g = 1\) and \(p \geq 4\), or \(g = 0\) and \(p \geq 6\). \item[(2)] The disc complex \(\mathcal{D}_n\) of a handlebody of genus \(n \geq 5\). \item[(3)] The free splitting complex \(\mathcal{FS}_n\) of a free group of rank \(n \geq 5\). \end{itemize} The author shows that \(K\) does not admit a \(\text{CAT(0)}\) metric with finitely many shapes. Furthermore, it does not admit one with bounded, thick shapes. None of the above complexes satisfies any combinatorial isoperimetric inequality; although they are contractible [\textit{J. L. Harer}, Ann. Math. (2) 121, 215--249 (1985; Zbl 0579.57005); \textit{A. E. Hatcher}, Topology Appl. 40, No. 2, 189--194 (1991; Zbl 0727.57012); \textit{D. McCullough}, J. Differ. Geom. 33, No. 1, 1--65 (1991; Zbl 0721.57008); \textit{A. E. Hatcher}, Comment. Math. Helv. 70, No. 1, 39--62 (1995; Zbl 0836.57003)], hyperbolic [\textit{H. Masur} and \textit{S. Schleimer}, J. Am. Math. Soc. 26, No. 1, 1--62 (2013; Zbl 1272.57015); \textit{M. Handel} and \textit{L. Mosher}, Geom. Topol. 17, No. 3, 1581--1672 (2013; Zbl 1278.20053)], and such that any finite group action must fix some point [\textit{S. P. Kerckhoff}, Ann. Math. (2) 117, 235--265 (1983; Zbl 0528.57008); \textit{J. L. Harer}, Invent. Math. 84, 157--176 (1986; Zbl 0592.57009); \textit{S. Hensel} et al., Geom. Topol. 18, No. 4, 2079--2126 (2014; Zbl 1320.57022)], and so traditional obstructions to being \(\text{CAT(0)}\) do not apply. In this paper, the author's obstruction to being \(\text{CAT(0)}\) with finitely many shapes is new. To show the above result, the author uses, among other results, the following theorem also proved in the paper: whenever \(K\) is a (not necessarily locally compact) flag simplicial complex equipped with a \(\text{CAT(0)}\) metric with bounded, thick shapes then \(K\) satisfies a quadratic combinatorial isoperimetric inequality. On the other hand, if \(K\) is the curve complex \(\mathcal{C}(S_{g,p})\) for \(3g+p-3 \geq 3\) or the arc-and-curve complex \(\mathcal{AC}(S_{g,p})\), then the author proves that \(K\) satisfies a linear combinatorial isoperimetric inequality. To prove this he uses the tightening procedure introduced by Masur and Minsky for geodesics, but the author's procedure for loops is more involved.