Quotient groups of the fundamental groups of certain strata of the moduli space of quadratic differentials (Q969687)

The author takes steps toward the calculation of the fundamental groups of certain manifolds arising naturally in Teichmüller theory. More precisely, the space \({\mathcal Q}_g\) of quadratic differentials over Teichmüller space \({\mathcal T}_g\) and the space \(\overline{{\mathcal Q}}_g\) of quadratic differentials over moduli space \({\mathcal M}_g\) can be stratified in a natural way as follows. Let \(\lambda= (k_1,\dots, k_n)\) be a partition of \(4g- 4\). Define \({\mathcal Q}_\lambda={\mathcal Q}_g(k_1,\dots, k_n)\) to be the subset of \({\mathcal Q}_g\) of quadratic differentials with \(n\) zeroes of order \(k_1,\dots, k_n\). Define \(\overline{{\mathcal Q}}_\lambda\) analogously. These spaces are manifolds whose fundamental groups are to be studied. The author embeds the space \({\mathcal Q}_\lambda\) into a larger configuration space \(X\) (a bundle over \({\mathcal T}_g\) with fibers a restricted symmetry group), and thereby obtains a homomorphism \(\pi_1({\mathcal Q}_\lambda)\to \pi_1(X)\). The author then maps \(X\) into a third space \(Y\) (a bundle over \({\mathcal T}_g\) with fibers a Picard space) by a map motivated by algebraic geometry called the Abel-Jacobi map, which takes a divisor to its associated line bundle. The image of \(\pi_1({\mathcal Q}_\lambda)\) is always a subgroup of the kernel of \(\pi_1(X)\to \pi_1(Y)\) and is often equal to that kernel. The author then finds generators for the kernel. The analysis depends on techniques for modifying quadratic differentials locally in a controlled way, which the author calls surgery. Thus, although the fundamental groups of \({\mathcal Q}_\lambda\) and \(\overline{{\mathcal Q}}_\lambda\) are not calculated precisely, a number of their quotient groups are calculated.