Mapping Class Group acts properly discontinuous; Alexander method

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
1
down vote

favorite
1












Let $S$ be a closed surface of genus $g$. The Alexander Method in Farb and Maraglit's "A Primer on Mapping Class Groups" (p.59) (roughly) states that if $c_1,c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position and $phi$ is an orientation preserving homeomorphism of $S$ such that $phi(c_i)$ is isotopic to either $c_1$ or $c_2$, then a power of $phi$ is isotopic to the identity.
Later on in the book, they use this result to prove Fricke's theorem, namely that the action of the Mapping Class Group on Teichmüller space is properly discontinuous. They argue as follows:



Suppose $B$ is a compact subset of Teichmüller space and $f$ is a mapping class with $f cdot B cap B ne emptyset$. Given two curves as above, an auxiliary lemma tells them that $f^-1(c_1)$ cand $f^-1(c_2)$ can only be two of finitely many isotopy classes of curves. Then they caim "By the Alexander method, there are [only] finitely many [possible] choices for $f^-1$ once the isotopy classes $f^-1(c_i)$ are determined."



Unfortunately, I do not see how this follows. Suppose $g$ is a mapping class such that $g^-1(c_i)$ is in the same isotopy class as $f^-1(c_i)$. We need to show that there are only fintely many possibilities for $g$. The composition $f circ g^-1$ maps the isotopy class of $c_i$ to $c_i$. Thus, the Alexander method tells us that some power $(f circ g^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity. Furthermore, by investigating the Alexander mehtod, one can see that the power is bounded by a constant depending only on $c_1$ and $c_2$ (namely, the number of intersections factorial). However, this does not tell me that there are only finitely many options for $g$. Can I not have infinitely many non-isotopic homeomorphisms $g_k$ such that $(f circ g_k^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity (for some fixed $n$)? How do I disprove it?



Cheers







share|cite|improve this question























    up vote
    1
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    Let $S$ be a closed surface of genus $g$. The Alexander Method in Farb and Maraglit's "A Primer on Mapping Class Groups" (p.59) (roughly) states that if $c_1,c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position and $phi$ is an orientation preserving homeomorphism of $S$ such that $phi(c_i)$ is isotopic to either $c_1$ or $c_2$, then a power of $phi$ is isotopic to the identity.
    Later on in the book, they use this result to prove Fricke's theorem, namely that the action of the Mapping Class Group on Teichmüller space is properly discontinuous. They argue as follows:



    Suppose $B$ is a compact subset of Teichmüller space and $f$ is a mapping class with $f cdot B cap B ne emptyset$. Given two curves as above, an auxiliary lemma tells them that $f^-1(c_1)$ cand $f^-1(c_2)$ can only be two of finitely many isotopy classes of curves. Then they caim "By the Alexander method, there are [only] finitely many [possible] choices for $f^-1$ once the isotopy classes $f^-1(c_i)$ are determined."



    Unfortunately, I do not see how this follows. Suppose $g$ is a mapping class such that $g^-1(c_i)$ is in the same isotopy class as $f^-1(c_i)$. We need to show that there are only fintely many possibilities for $g$. The composition $f circ g^-1$ maps the isotopy class of $c_i$ to $c_i$. Thus, the Alexander method tells us that some power $(f circ g^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity. Furthermore, by investigating the Alexander mehtod, one can see that the power is bounded by a constant depending only on $c_1$ and $c_2$ (namely, the number of intersections factorial). However, this does not tell me that there are only finitely many options for $g$. Can I not have infinitely many non-isotopic homeomorphisms $g_k$ such that $(f circ g_k^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity (for some fixed $n$)? How do I disprove it?



    Cheers







    share|cite|improve this question





















      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      Let $S$ be a closed surface of genus $g$. The Alexander Method in Farb and Maraglit's "A Primer on Mapping Class Groups" (p.59) (roughly) states that if $c_1,c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position and $phi$ is an orientation preserving homeomorphism of $S$ such that $phi(c_i)$ is isotopic to either $c_1$ or $c_2$, then a power of $phi$ is isotopic to the identity.
      Later on in the book, they use this result to prove Fricke's theorem, namely that the action of the Mapping Class Group on Teichmüller space is properly discontinuous. They argue as follows:



      Suppose $B$ is a compact subset of Teichmüller space and $f$ is a mapping class with $f cdot B cap B ne emptyset$. Given two curves as above, an auxiliary lemma tells them that $f^-1(c_1)$ cand $f^-1(c_2)$ can only be two of finitely many isotopy classes of curves. Then they caim "By the Alexander method, there are [only] finitely many [possible] choices for $f^-1$ once the isotopy classes $f^-1(c_i)$ are determined."



      Unfortunately, I do not see how this follows. Suppose $g$ is a mapping class such that $g^-1(c_i)$ is in the same isotopy class as $f^-1(c_i)$. We need to show that there are only fintely many possibilities for $g$. The composition $f circ g^-1$ maps the isotopy class of $c_i$ to $c_i$. Thus, the Alexander method tells us that some power $(f circ g^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity. Furthermore, by investigating the Alexander mehtod, one can see that the power is bounded by a constant depending only on $c_1$ and $c_2$ (namely, the number of intersections factorial). However, this does not tell me that there are only finitely many options for $g$. Can I not have infinitely many non-isotopic homeomorphisms $g_k$ such that $(f circ g_k^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity (for some fixed $n$)? How do I disprove it?



      Cheers







      share|cite|improve this question











      Let $S$ be a closed surface of genus $g$. The Alexander Method in Farb and Maraglit's "A Primer on Mapping Class Groups" (p.59) (roughly) states that if $c_1,c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position and $phi$ is an orientation preserving homeomorphism of $S$ such that $phi(c_i)$ is isotopic to either $c_1$ or $c_2$, then a power of $phi$ is isotopic to the identity.
      Later on in the book, they use this result to prove Fricke's theorem, namely that the action of the Mapping Class Group on Teichmüller space is properly discontinuous. They argue as follows:



      Suppose $B$ is a compact subset of Teichmüller space and $f$ is a mapping class with $f cdot B cap B ne emptyset$. Given two curves as above, an auxiliary lemma tells them that $f^-1(c_1)$ cand $f^-1(c_2)$ can only be two of finitely many isotopy classes of curves. Then they caim "By the Alexander method, there are [only] finitely many [possible] choices for $f^-1$ once the isotopy classes $f^-1(c_i)$ are determined."



      Unfortunately, I do not see how this follows. Suppose $g$ is a mapping class such that $g^-1(c_i)$ is in the same isotopy class as $f^-1(c_i)$. We need to show that there are only fintely many possibilities for $g$. The composition $f circ g^-1$ maps the isotopy class of $c_i$ to $c_i$. Thus, the Alexander method tells us that some power $(f circ g^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity. Furthermore, by investigating the Alexander mehtod, one can see that the power is bounded by a constant depending only on $c_1$ and $c_2$ (namely, the number of intersections factorial). However, this does not tell me that there are only finitely many options for $g$. Can I not have infinitely many non-isotopic homeomorphisms $g_k$ such that $(f circ g_k^-1)^n$ is isotopic to the identity (for some fixed $n$)? How do I disprove it?



      Cheers









      share|cite|improve this question










      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question









      asked Jul 18 at 15:48









      Florian R

      3408




      3408




















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          0
          down vote



          accepted










          A stronger statement is true: if $c_1$, $c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position then the subset of the mapping class group that preserves the unordered pair of isotopy classes $[c_1],[c_2]$ is a finite subgroup.



          It follows that once the unordered pair isotopy classes $f^-1[c_1],f^-1[c_2]$ is determined, the set of values of $f^-1$ lives in one left coset of that subgroup, and hence is finite.






          share|cite|improve this answer





















            Your Answer




            StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
            return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
            StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
            StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
            );
            );
            , "mathjax-editing");

            StackExchange.ready(function()
            var channelOptions =
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "69"
            ;
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
            createEditor();
            );

            else
            createEditor();

            );

            function createEditor()
            StackExchange.prepareEditor(
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            convertImagesToLinks: true,
            noModals: false,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: 10,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            noCode: true, onDemand: true,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            );



            );








             

            draft saved


            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2855712%2fmapping-class-group-acts-properly-discontinuous-alexander-method%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest






























            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes








            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            0
            down vote



            accepted










            A stronger statement is true: if $c_1$, $c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position then the subset of the mapping class group that preserves the unordered pair of isotopy classes $[c_1],[c_2]$ is a finite subgroup.



            It follows that once the unordered pair isotopy classes $f^-1[c_1],f^-1[c_2]$ is determined, the set of values of $f^-1$ lives in one left coset of that subgroup, and hence is finite.






            share|cite|improve this answer

























              up vote
              0
              down vote



              accepted










              A stronger statement is true: if $c_1$, $c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position then the subset of the mapping class group that preserves the unordered pair of isotopy classes $[c_1],[c_2]$ is a finite subgroup.



              It follows that once the unordered pair isotopy classes $f^-1[c_1],f^-1[c_2]$ is determined, the set of values of $f^-1$ lives in one left coset of that subgroup, and hence is finite.






              share|cite|improve this answer























                up vote
                0
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                0
                down vote



                accepted






                A stronger statement is true: if $c_1$, $c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position then the subset of the mapping class group that preserves the unordered pair of isotopy classes $[c_1],[c_2]$ is a finite subgroup.



                It follows that once the unordered pair isotopy classes $f^-1[c_1],f^-1[c_2]$ is determined, the set of values of $f^-1$ lives in one left coset of that subgroup, and hence is finite.






                share|cite|improve this answer













                A stronger statement is true: if $c_1$, $c_2$ are two filling curves in minimal position then the subset of the mapping class group that preserves the unordered pair of isotopy classes $[c_1],[c_2]$ is a finite subgroup.



                It follows that once the unordered pair isotopy classes $f^-1[c_1],f^-1[c_2]$ is determined, the set of values of $f^-1$ lives in one left coset of that subgroup, and hence is finite.







                share|cite|improve this answer













                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer











                answered Jul 18 at 18:52









                Lee Mosher

                45.7k33478




                45.7k33478






















                     

                    draft saved


                    draft discarded


























                     


                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function ()
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f2855712%2fmapping-class-group-acts-properly-discontinuous-alexander-method%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                    );

                    Post as a guest













































































                    Comments

                    Popular posts from this blog

                    Color the edges and diagonals of a regular polygon

                    Relationship between determinant of matrix and determinant of adjoint?

                    What is the equation of a 3D cone with generalised tilt?