Dynamics of \(\text{SL}_2(\mathbb R)\) over moduli space in genus two (Q2642235)

The main subject of the paper is the dynamics of the \(\text{ SL}_2({\mathbb R})\) action on the bundle \(\Omega{\mathcal M}_2 \to {\mathcal M}_2\) of holomorphic 1--forms on the moduli space of compact Riemann surfaces in genus \(2\). Its results shed new light on the geometry of the moduli space of genus \(2\) curves, in particular on the complex geodesics generated by holomorphic 1--forms: their closures are either isometrically immersed algebraic curves, or Hilbert modular surfaces, or the full moduli space (Thm. 1.1). Properties of the generating pair \((X,\omega)\) of the complex geodesic determine the distinction between these cases (Thm. 1.2). One obtains e.g. the third case if and only if \(\omega\) is not an eigenform for real multiplication on the Jacobian of \(X\). Besides of these important results, the author uses Marina Ratner's solution of Raghunathan's conjectures to develop ergodic properties of the moduli space as e.g. the classification of all ergodic probability measures on \(\Omega_1{\mathcal M}_2 \) (Thm. 1.5). Further results concern pseudo--Anosov elements of the mapping class group and the possible decomposition of the elements \((X,\omega)\) in connected sums of elements \((E_i,\omega_i)\) where \(E_i, \, i= 1,2\) denote elliptic curves. All these subjects have fascinating and fruitful interconnections impossible to describe on a short page.