Convex cocompact subgroups of mapping class groups

By Benson Farb, Lee Mosher. 2001

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We develop a theory of convex cocompact subgroups of the mapping class group MCG of a closed, oriented surface S of genus at least 2, in terms of the action on Teichmuller space. Given a subgroup G of MCG defining an extension 1 → π 1 (S) → T G → G → 1, we prove that if Γ G is a word hyperbolic group then G is a convex cocompact subgroup of MCG. When G is free and convex cocompact, called a Schottky subgroup of MCG, the converse is true as well; a semidirect product of π 1 (S) by a free group G is therefore word hyperbolic if and only if G is a Schottky subgroup of MCG. The special case when G = Z follows from Thurston's hyperbolization theorem. Schottky subgroups exist in abundance: sufficiently high powers of any independent set of pseudo-Anosov mapping classes freely generate a Schottky subgroup.

Subfields: Computational Theory and Mathematics, Geometry and Topology, Mathematical Physics

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/549e3fae63325939958d0776ce5925ff63f09fe2

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In Computational Theory and Mathematics

  1. Alessandro Sisto
  2. M. Bestvina
  3. Mark F. Hagen
  4. Mark Feighn
  5. Spencer Dowdall
  6. Samuel J. Taylor
  7. Johanna Mangahas
  8. Christopher J. Leininger

In Geometry and Topology

  1. Alessandro Sisto
  2. Mark F. Hagen
  3. Samuel J. Taylor
  4. Hung Cong Tran
  5. Spencer Dowdall
  6. M. Bestvina
  7. Pranab Sardar
  8. Jason A. Behrstock

In Mathematical Physics

  1. Alessandro Sisto
  2. Mark F. Hagen
  3. Samuel J. Taylor
  4. Hung Cong Tran
  5. Spencer Dowdall
  6. M. Bestvina
  7. Pranab Sardar
  8. Jason A. Behrstock

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