Asymptotic geometry of the mapping class group and Teichmüller space (Q860165)

The author studies the asymptotic geometry of the mapping class group and Teichmüller space. He obtains information concerning the topology of their asymptotic cones. Recently, \textit{C. Drutu} and \textit{M. Sapir} [Topology 44, No. 5, 959--1058 (2005; Zbl 1101.20025)] showed that any group which is relatively hyperbolic has cut-points in its asymptotic cone. They asked whether this property of having asymptotic cut-points gives a characterization of such groups. The author proves the following Theorem. If \(S\) is any surface and \(\text{Cone}_\omega(MCG(S))\) is any asymptotic cone, then every point of \(\text{Cone}_\omega(MCG(S))\) is a global cut-point. Similary one obtains global cut-points in each asymptotic cone of Teichmüller space with the Weil-Petersson metric. There are also some other specific results on the asymptotic geometry of the mapping class group. The above results are produced by analyzing the complex of curves, a simplicial complex encoding intersection patterns of curves on a surface.