The Poisson boundary of Out(F_N)

Abstract: Let

m u

be a probability measure on

e x t O u t (F_{N})

with finite first logarithmic moment with respect to the word metric, finite entropy, and whose support generates a nonelementary subgroup of

e x t O u t (F_{N})

. We show that almost every sample path of the random walk on

(e x t O u t (F_{N}), m u)

, when realized in Culler and Vogtmann's outer space, converges to the simplex of a free, arational tree. We then prove that the space

m a t h c a l F I

of simplices of free and arational trees, equipped with the hitting measure, is the Poisson boundary of

(e x t O u t (F_{N}), m u)

. Using Bestvina-Reynolds' and Hamenst"adt's description of the Gromov boundary of the complex

m a t h c a l {F F}_{N}

of free factors of

F_{N}

, this gives a new proof of the fact, due to Calegari and Maher, that the realization in

m a t h c a l F F_{N}

of almost every sample path of the random walk converges to a boundary point. We get in addition that

p a r t i a l m a t h c a l {F F}_{N}

, equipped with the hitting measure, is the Poisson boundary of

(e x t O u t (F_{N}), m u)

.

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