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3 votes
0 answers
463 views

Representations of triangle groups

$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\PSL{PSL}$I am self-studying triangle groups and the following question comes up. Let $G$ denotes $(2,3,7)$ triangle group. It is symmetry group of $(2,...
3 votes
1 answer
375 views

Reference for triangle groups

Can anyone suggest to me some references for studying triangle groups? Especially the existence of finite index subgroups, subgroups isomorphic to fundamental groups of compact surfaces etc.
8 votes
1 answer
200 views

For which planar topological spaces $Z$ does there exist a hyperbolic group $\Gamma$ with $\partial \Gamma \cong Z$?

Recall a topological space is called planar if it can be embedded in $S^2$. I'm interested in understanding hyperbolic groups with planar boundaries. In [1], it is shown that if a one-ended hyperbolic ...
10 votes
2 answers
538 views

Is there an analogue of Mostow-Palais equivariant embedding theorem for noncompact groups

Let $M$ be a (Hausdorff) smooth compact manifold and $G$ a Lie group acting smoothly on $M$. If $G$ is compact then, by Mostow-Palais theorem, there exists an equivariant smooth embedding $M\to {\...
3 votes
0 answers
257 views

Braids with an infinite number of strings

Has anyone developed a theory for braids with an infinite number of strings?
4 votes
0 answers
177 views

Ping pong with parabolic isometries on Gromov hyperbolic spaces

For a group $G$ with a non-elementary general type action by isometries on a Gromov hyperbolic geodesic space $(X,d)$, it is well known that you can construct free subgroups of $G$ via the ping pong ...
9 votes
1 answer
458 views

Fuchsian groups and Eichler's result

Let $G$ be a Fuchsian group of first kind contained in $\text{PSL}_2(\mathbb{R})$. A result of Eichler says, there exists a finite set $S\subset G$ such that any $\gamma$ in $G$ can be written as a ...
11 votes
0 answers
269 views

Proving a group with two generators is not free that uses the Brahamagupta-Pell equation

Hello I encountered the following while reading a set of notes on free groups. It's not a homework question. "Does there exist a rational number $\alpha$ with $0 <|\alpha| < 2$ such that the ...
3 votes
0 answers
136 views

Existence of loxodromic elements in certain subsets of $\text{PSL}_2(\mathbb C)$

Let $R$ be a subset of $\text{PSL}_2(\mathbb C)$ and consider its natural action on $\mathbb {CP}^1$. We say that $R$ is elementary if either $R$ is conjugated to a subset of $\text{SU(2)}$ or if ...
62 votes
9 answers
9k views

Fundamental groups of noncompact surfaces

I got fantastic answers to my previous question (about modern references for the fact that surfaces can be triangulated), so I thought I'd ask a related question. A basic fact about surface topology ...
5 votes
0 answers
228 views

Automorphism groups of cocompact Fuchsian groups as mapping class groups

Let $\Gamma$ be a cocompact Fuchsian group. So it has presentation $$\langle x_1,y_1, \dots, x_g,y_g,z_1, \ldots, z_r \mid [x_1,y_1] \cdots [x_g,y_g]z_1 \cdots z_r=1, \ z_i^{m_i}=1 \rangle$$ for some $...
12 votes
1 answer
403 views

Are finite presentations of arithmetic groups computable?

In this famous paper by Borel and Harish-Chandra, Arithmetic Subgroups of Algebraic Groups, it is proved that, in characterisitic zero, arithmetic groups are finitely presented. I have an extremely ...
11 votes
0 answers
379 views

Amalgamated product of automatic groups

In Gersten's "Problems on Automatic Groups", Problem 14, he asks the following question: Let $G=A\ast_{C}B$ where $A$ and $B$ are automatic and $C$ is infinite cyclic. Is $G$ automatic? Is this ...
10 votes
1 answer
534 views

The Tits alternative for $\operatorname{Out}(F_n)$

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but the paper I am reading seems to be too specialised for mathstack (if you do not agree, pleas let me know and I will take down this question) I am ...
11 votes
4 answers
1k views

Examples of acylindrical 3-manifolds

Let $C$ be the compact cylinder $S^1\times [0,1]$. A 3-manifold $M$ with incompressible boundary is called acylindrical if every map $(C,\partial C)\to (M,\partial M)$ that sends the components of $\...
7 votes
0 answers
1k views

A "direct" proof that hyperbolic groups are not amenable

I am looking for a proof that a finitely generated hyperbolic groups is non-amenable [unless it is virtually cyclic] which is as "metric/combinatoric" as possible. Here are the two proofs I am aware ...
2 votes
2 answers
594 views

Hausdorff Dimensions of Limit set of subgroups of SL(2,Z)

In a recent paper by Bourgain, Sarnak, Gamburd [1] talks about subgroups of $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$. Let $\Lambda$ be a finitely generated non-elementary subgroup of $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ with Hausdorff ...
5 votes
1 answer
884 views

solvable word problem without algorithm

Let $G$ be a finitely generated group. I wonder if there are examples where: 1) The word problem is known to be solvable in $G$ but there is no algorithm known. 2) The word problem is known to be ...
3 votes
0 answers
156 views

Cancellations in products of two elements of a hyperbolic group

Let $G$ be a non-abelian free group with the standard generating set and the corresponding word metric. If we take two elements $g,h\in G$ and compute their product $gh$, some letters might cancel, ...
5 votes
1 answer
906 views

Boundaries of relatively hyperbolic groups

When the interior of an n-manifold $M$ has a pinched negative curvature metric of finite volume, then its fundamental group $\Gamma=\pi_1M$ is relatively hyperbolic relative to the parabolic groups $\...
11 votes
1 answer
619 views

Analogues of the curve complex for Out(F)

Let $F$ be a finitely generated free group. Question: Is there an authoritative survey of analogues of the curve complex for $\mathrm{Out}(F)$? If not, as seems likely, would a passing expert be ...