Detection of essential surfaces in 3-manifolds with \(SL_2\)-trees (Q5947127)

Let \(M\) be a compact 3-manifold with universal cover \(p:\widetilde M\to M\), \(F\) a field with a discrete valuation, and suppose \(\pi_1(M)\) to have a non-trivial representation in \(\text{SL}_2(F)\). According to Bass-Serre Theory [\textit{J.-P. Serre}, Trees (1980; Zbl 0548.20018)], there is a tree, \(T\), on which \(\text{SL}_2(F)\) acts, and this induces an action of \(\pi_1\) on \(T\). This allows the construction of a \(\pi_1\)-equivariant map from \(\widetilde M\) to \(T\) transverse to the midpoints of edges in \(T\). The pre-image of a midpoint of an edge in \(T\) is projected by \(p\) to an essential surface in \(M\). The authors investigate which essential surfaces in \(M\) can arise in this way.