Polynomial basins of infinity (Q719074)

Let \(f:\mathbb{C}\to \mathbb{C}\) be a polynomial of degree \(d\geq 2\) and denote by \(X(f)\) its basin of infinity, that is, the set of all points that escape to infinity under iteration. Denote by \(M_d\) the moduli space of complex affine conjugacy classes of degree \(d\) polynomials equipped with the topology provided by the coefficients of the representatives of the classes, and by \(B_d\) the moduli space of conformal conjugacy classes of degree \(d\) polynomials restricted to its basin of infinity. The object of interest is the projection \(\pi: M_d\to B_d\) which sends a polynomial \(f\) to its restriction \(f|_{X(f)}\). It is shown that when \(B_d\) is equipped with a dynamically natural Gromov-Hausdorff topology, \(\pi\) becomes continuous, proper and a homeomorphism on the shift locus \(S_d\) which consists of all polynomials of degree \(d\) which have critical points only in the basin of infinity. The main result of the paper under review is that all fibers of \(\pi\) are connected. This implies that quasiconformal and topological basin-of-infinity conjugacy classes are also connected. The main tool of the proof is an analysis of model surfaces and model maps which are branched covers between translation surfaces that model the local behaviour of a polynomial. This paper is part of a series of articles by the authors; see also [Adv. Math. 226, No. 1, 350--372 (2011; Zbl 1207.37030); ``The classification of polynomial basins of infinity'', Preprint, \url{arxiv:1107.1091}].