Riemann surfaces bounded by curves with given projections of branch points (Q2501641)

Let \(N\) be a compact Riemann surface and \(\beta\) a curve which divides \(N\) into finite number of components. Let \(C =\{c_0,c_1,\dots,c_m\}\) be a set of points of \(N\) such that each component contains at least one of these points. Let \(M\) be a compact Riemann surface of a given genus and \(p: M\to N\) a holomorphic map such that the boundary of \(M\) is projected over the curve \(\beta\). How many pairs \((M,p)\) exist such that their branch points are projected into the set \(C\) with \(n\) sheets over the point \(c_0\)? The author answers this question for the case \(n = 0\) by describing all possible factorizations of the homotopic class of \(\beta\) in the fundamental group of \(N\backslash C\). This is done via the concept of basic collection and some results obtained in his previous papers [St. Petersbg. Math. J. 5, No. 3, 607--631 (1994); translation from Algebra Anal. 5, No.~3, 212--237 (1993; Zbl 0822.30030) and Rev. Roum. Math. Pures Appl. 40, No.~2, 177--194 (1995; Zbl 0863.30046)].