Teichmüller theory and critically finite endomorphisms (Q2437533)

The main object of the paper are Thurston maps, i.e., orientation-preserving branched coverings \(f:(S^2,P)\to (S^2,P)\) of a \(2\)-sphere \(S^2\) with a finite postcritical set \(P\). We recall that the postcritical set of \(f\) is the set \(P=P_f:=\bigcup_{n\geq0}f^{\circ n}(\Omega_f)\) where \(\Omega_f\) is the set of all critical points of \(f\) and \(f^{\circ n}\) is the \(n\)-th iteration of \(f\). Every Thurston map generates a holomorphic endomorphism \(\sigma_f\) of the Teichmüller space \(\mathcal{T}_P\) corresponding to its postcritical set \(P\). Very important is the case when there exists a holomorphic map \(g_f:\mathcal{M}_P\to\mathcal{M}_P\) of the corresponding moduli space \(\mathcal{M}_P\) such that \(g_f\circ\pi_P\circ \sigma_f=\pi_P\); here \(\pi_P:\mathcal{T}_P\to \mathcal{M}_P\) is a universal covering map. Generalizing a result by \textit{L. Bartholdi} and \textit{V. Nekrashevych} [Acta Math. 197, No. 1, 1--51 (2006; Zbl 1176.37020)], the author obtains some sufficient conditions for such a map \(g_f\) to exist. For a topologically polynomial map \(f\) it is possible to use the projective space \(\mathbb{P}^n\) as a compactification of the moduli space \(\mathcal{M}_P\). In Theorems 5.17 and 5.18 it is proved that for Thurston mappings \(f\) with critical set \(\Omega\), under the condition: either \(\Omega\subset P\) or \(|\Omega|=2\), the map \(g_f\) exists and admits an extension to a critically finite endomorphism \(G=G_f\) of \(\mathbb{P}^n\), i.e., an endomorphism \(G\) with algebraic postcritical locus \(V_G:=\bigcup_{n>0}G^{\circ n}(C_G)\), \(C_G\) being the critical locus of \(G\). Therefore, constructing critically finite endomorphisms allows us to obtain information on Thurston maps and to investigate their properties. The paper consists of 9 sections. In Section 1 some basic concepts of Teichmüller theory and moduli spaces are recalled. In Section 2 the author gives a detailed description of the Hurwitz space \(\mathcal{W}_f\) for branched coverings \(f:(S^2,A)\to (S^2,B)\), with finite sets \(A\) and \(B\) satisfying some natural conditions. Some properties of \(\mathcal{W}_f\) are given. In particular it is proved that \(\mathcal{W}_f\) defines a finite-sheeted branch-covering for \(\mathcal{M}_B\). In Section 3 two examples with computation of \(\mathcal{W}_f\) are considered; they are connected with the functions \(R(z)=z^2+c_r\) (the `rabbit polynomial') and \(F(z)=3z^2/(2z^3+1)\). Section 4 is devoted to the description of the Thurston theory. In Section 5 an extensions of the map \(g_f\) to a compactification of \(\mathcal{M}_P\) are discussed. The main statements are Theorems 5.17 and 5.18 mentioned above. In Section 6 it is proved that, under the conditions of Theorems 5.17 and 5.18, the postcritical sets of critically finite endomorphisms \(G_f\) coincide with a set \(\Delta\subset \mathbb{P}^n\) that consists of \((n^2+3n+2)/2\) hyperplanes. As a corollary, one obtains that their complements are Kobayashi hyperbolic. In Section 7 the connection of \(G_f\) to the mapping of the Teichmüller space \(T_P\), induced by \(f\), is discussed. In Section 8 the author analyzes known examples of critically finite endomorphisms, connected with topologically polynomial mappings, and shows that they can be obtained from Theorems 5.17 and 5.18. At last, in Section 9 some open questions are discussed.