An introduction to pressure metrics for higher Teichmüller spaces

We discuss how one uses the thermodynamic formalism to produce metrics on higher Teichmüller spaces. Our higher Teichmüller spaces will be spaces of Anosov representations of a word-hyperbolic group into a semi-simple Lie group. We begin by discussing our construction in the classical setting of the Teichmüller space of a closed orientable surface of genus at least 2, then we explain the construction for Hitchin components and finally we treat the general case. This paper surveys results of Bridgeman, Canary, Labourie and Sambarino, The pressure metric for Anosov representations, and discusses questions and open problems which arise.

THE CONJUGACY PROBLEM IN HYPERBOLIC GROUPS FOR FINITE LISTS OF GROUP ELEMENTS

Let G be a word-hyperbolic group with given finite generating set, for which various standard structures and constants have been pre-computed. An (non-practical) algorithm is described that, given as input two lists A and B, each composed of m words in the generators and their inverses, determines whether or not the lists are conjugate in G, and returns a conjugating element, should one exist. The algorithm runs in time O(mμ), where μ is an upper bound on the length of elements in the two lists. Similarly, an algorithm is outlined that computes generators of the centralizer of A, with the same bound on running time.

Surface groups within Baumslag doubles

A conjecture of Gromov states that a one-ended word-hyperbolic group must contain a subgroup that is isomorphic to the fundamental group of a closed hyperbolic surface. Recent papers by Gordon and Wilton and by Kim and Wilton give sufficient conditions for hyperbolic surface groups to be embedded in a hyperbolic Baumslag double G. Using Nielsen cancellation methods based on techniques from previous work by the second author, we prove that a hyperbolic orientable surface group of genus 2 is embedded in a hyperbolic Baumslag double if and only if the amalgamated word W is a commutator: that is, W = [U, V] for some elements U, V ∈ F. Furthermore, a hyperbolic Baumslag double G contains a non-orientable surface group of genus 4 if and only if W = X2Y2 for some X, Y ∈ F. G can contain no non-orientable surface group of smaller genus.

Invariant measures on the space of horofunctions of a word hyperbolic group

We introduce a natural equivalence relation on the space ℋ0 of horofunctions of a word hyperbolic group that take the value 0 at the identity. We show that there are only finitely many ergodic measures that are invariant under this relation. This can be viewed as a discrete analog of the Bowen–Marcus theorem. Furthermore, if η is such a measure and G acts on a probability space (X,μ) by measure-preserving transformations then η×μ is virtually ergodic with respect to a natural equivalence relation on ℋ0×X. This is comparable to a special case of the Howe–Moore theorem. These results are applied to prove a new ergodic theorem for spherical averages in the case of a word hyperbolic group acting on a finite space.

Quasiregular self-mappings of manifolds and word hyperbolic groups

An extension of a result of Sela shows that if Γ is a torsion-free word hyperbolic group, then the only homomorphisms Γ→Γ with finite-index image are the automorphisms. It follows from this result and properties of quasiregular mappings, that if M is a closed Riemannian n-manifold with negative sectional curvature ($n\neq 4$), then every quasiregular mapping f:M→M is a homeomorphism. In the constant-curvature case the dimension restriction is not necessary and Mostow rigidity implies that f is homotopic to an isometry. This is to be contrasted with the fact that every such manifold admits a non-homeomorphic light open self-mapping. We present similar results for more general quotients of hyperbolic space and quasiregular mappings between them. For instance, we establish that besides covering projections there are no π1-injective proper quasiregular mappings f:M→N between hyperbolic 3-manifolds M and N with non-elementary fundamental group.

THE LINEARITY OF THE CONJUGACY PROBLEM IN WORD-HYPERBOLIC GROUPS

The main result proved in this paper is that the conjugacy problem in word-hyperbolic groups is solvable in linear time. This is using a standard RAM model of computation, in which basic arithmetical operations on integers are assumed to take place in constant time. The constants involved in the linear time solution are all computable explicitly. We also give a proof of the result of Mike Shapiro that in a word-hyperbolic group a word in the generators can be transformed into short-lex normal form in linear time. This is used in the proof of our main theorem, but is a significant theoretical result of independent interest, which deserves to be in the literature. Previously the best known result was a quadratic estimate.

$C^*$-algebras associated with the fundamental groups of graphs of groups

We construct a nuclear $C^*$-algebra associated with the fundamental group of a graph of groups of finite type. It is well-known that every word-hyperbolic group with zero-dimensional boundary, in other words, every group acting trees with finite stabilizers is given by the fundamental group of such a graph of groups. We show that our $C^*$-algebra is $*$-isomorphic to the crossed product arising from the associated boundary action and is also given by a Cuntz-Pimsner algebra. We also compute the K-groups and determine the ideal structures of our $C^*$-algebras.

ENDS OF CUSP-UNIFORM GROUPS OF LOCALLY CONNECTED CONTINUA — I

Due to works by Bestvina–Mess, Swarup and Bowditch, we now have complete knowledge of how splittings of a word-hyperbolic group G as a graph of groups with finite or two-ended edge groups relate to the cut point structure of its boundary. It is central in the theory that ∂G is a locally connected continuum (a Peano space). Motivated by the structure of tight circle packings, we propose to generalize this theory to cusp-uniform groups in the sense of Tukia. A Peano space X is cut-rigid, if X has no cut point, no points of infinite valence and no cut pairs consisting of bivalent points. We prove: Theorem. Suppose X is a cut-rigid space admitting a cusp-uniform action by an infinite group. If X contains a minimal cut triple of bivalent points, then there exists a simplicial tree T, canonically associated with X, and a canonical simplicial action of Homeo(X) on T such that any infinite cusp-uniform group G of X acts cofinitely on T, with finite edge stabilizers. In particular, if X is such that T is locally finite, then any cusp-uniform group G of X is virtually free.

REGULARITY OF QUASIGEODESICS IN A HYPERBOLIC GROUP

We prove that for λ≥1 and all sufficiently large ∊, the set of (λ,∊)-quasigeodesics in an infinite word-hyperbolic group G is regular if and only if λ is rational. In fact, this set of quasigeodesics defines an asynchronous automatic structure for G. We also introduce the idea of an exact (λ,∊)-quasigeodesic and show that for rational λ and appropriate ∊ the sets of exact (λ,∊)-quasigeodesics define synchronous automatic structures.