On type-preserving representations of the four-punctured sphere group (Q280925)

The author gives counterexamples to a question of Bowditch that asks whether an elementary type-preserving representation \(\rho : \pi_{1}(\Sigma_{g,n}) \rightarrow \mathbf{PSL}(2;{\mathbb R})\) of a punctured surface group that sends every nonperipheral simple closed curve to a hyperbolic element must be Fuchsian. The counterexamples come from relative Euler class \(\pm1\) representations of the four-punctured sphere group. He also shows that the mapping class group action on each nonextremal component of the character space of type-preserving representations of the four-punctured sphere group is ergodic, which confirms a conjecture of Goldman for this case. The main tool used are Kashaev and Penner's lengths coordinates of the decorated character spaces. Theorem 1.1 There are uncountably many nonelementary type-preserving representations \(\rho : \pi_{1}(\Sigma_{0,n}) \rightarrow \mathbf{PSL}(2;{\mathbb R})\) with relative Euler class \(e(\rho)=\pm1\) that send every nonperipheral simple closed curve to a hyperbolic element. In particular, these representations are not Fuchsian. Theorem 1.4 The Mod\((\Sigma_{0,4})\)-action on each nonextremal connected component of Mod\((\Sigma_{0,4})\) is ergodic.