Polyhedral hyperbolic metrics on surfaces (Q930535)

Let \(S\) be a compact oriented surface of genus \(g\) with \((n+ p)\) points and \(m\) closed discs removed. Moreover a polyhedron in \(\mathbb{H}^3\) is generalized if some of its vertices lie ``outside'' \(\mathbb{H}^3\). Let \(g\) be a metric on \(S\). If there exists an invariant polyhedron \((P, G)\), where \(G\) is a discrete group of isometries of \(\mathbb{H}^3\), such that the induced metric on \(\partial P/G\) is isometric to \((S,g)\), we say that \((P,G)\) realizes the metric \(g\). The main result of the paper under review is the following theorem. Theorem. Each hyperbolic metric on \(S\) with conical singularities of positive singular curvature, cusps and complete ends of cofinite area can be realized by a unique convex generalized hyperbolic polyhedron invariant under the action of a group of isometries acting freely cocompactly on a totally umbilical surface. The above theorem is proved in 3 steps. The most important ingredient is the so-called Alexandrov method. It is an adaptation of the method used by Alexandrov in his proof of the theorem about the induced metric on the boundary of convex Euclidean polytopes [see \textit{A. Alexandroff}, Mat. Sb., N. Ser. 11(53), 15--65 (1942; Zbl 0061.37603)].