On groups generated by two positive multi-twists: Teichmüller curves and Lehmer's number (Q2388835)

We recall the definition of a positive Dehn twist along an essential simple closed curve \(C\) in a surface \(S\): cut \(S\) along \(C\), twist the far side of the cut edge one full turn to the right, and sew the cut edges back together. A positive multi-twist \(T_A\) performs a positive Dehn twist along each curve of a disjoint family \(A\) of essential simple closed curves. Thurston showed the abundant existence of pseudo-Anosov diffeomorphisms of a hyperbolic surface \(S\) by analyzing the group of diffeomorphisms of \(S\) generated by two positive multi-twists \(T_A\) and \(T_B\). Thurston assigned a numerical invariant \(\mu(A, B)\) to the pair \((A, B)\) and remarked without proof that the subgroup \(\langle T_A, T_B\rangle\) of the mapping class group generated by \(T_A\) and \(T_B\) is a free group on the two generators if and only if \(\mu(A, B)\geq 2\). Thurston's invariant \(\mu\) is defined in terms of the Perron-Frobenius eigenvalue of an intersection matrix associated with the two families \(A\) and \(B\). The author gives a graph-theoretic criterion which determines whether or not the subgroup \(\langle T_A, T_B\rangle\) is free. The author shows that \(\mu\) is the spectral radius of the configuration graph \({\mathcal G}(A, B)\) of the pair \((A, B)\): one vertex for each component of \(A\) and each component of \(B\), one edge for each point of intersection (when \(A\) and \(B\) have been arranged to have minimal intersection). He then shows (by simple methods of hyperbolic geometry) that the group \(\langle T_A,T_B\rangle\) is free on two generators if and only if \(\mu\geq 2\), as claimed by Thurston, and (by established results in graph theory) that \(\mu\geq 2\) if and only if the graph \({\mathcal G}(A, B)\) has a component which does not lie in a certain explicit list of graphs. When every essential curve in \(S\) intersects \(A\cup B\) (\(A\cup B\) filling), there is an associated flat structure on almost all of \(S\), an induced complex structure and quadratic differential on \(S\), and a map \(f:{\mathbf H}^2\to{\mathcal T}(S)\) from the hyperbolic plane \({\mathbf H}^2\) into the Teichmüller space \({\mathcal T}(S)\). This map, or its image, is called a Teichmüller disk. Often such structures can be associated with the billiards of a rational polygon in the Euclidean plane [\textit{A. N. Zemljakov} and \textit{A. B. Katok}, Lect. Notes Math. 18, 760--764 (1975; Zbl 0323.58012)]. The author gives a graph-theoretic criterion which determines when this association is possible and particularly nice. The result is closely related to work of Veech, Harvey, Gutkin, Judge, Kenyon, Smillie, Puchta, McMullen, and Calta.