Thick metric spaces,relative hyperbolicity,and quasi-isometric rigidity

We study the geometry of non-relatively hyperbolic groups. Generalizing a result of Schwartz, any quasi-isometric image of a non-relatively hyperbolic space in a relatively hyperbolic space is contained in a bounded neighborhood of a single peripheral subgroup. This implies that a group being relatively hyperbolic with non-relatively hyperbolic peripheral subgroups is a quasi-isometry invariant. As an application, Artin groups are relatively hyperbolic if and only if freely decomposable. We also introduce a new quasi-isometry invariant of metric spaces called metrically thick, which is sufficient for a metric space to be non-hyperbolic relative to any non-trivial collection of subsets. Thick finitely generated groups include: mapping class groups of most surfaces; outer automorphism groups of most free groups; certain Artin groups; and others. Non-uniform lattices in higher rank semisimple Lie groups are thick and hence non-relatively hyperbolic, in contrast with rank one which provided the motivating examples of relatively hyperbolic groups. Mapping class groups are the first examples of non-relatively hyperbolic groups having cut points in any asymptotic cone, resolving several questions of Drutu and Sapir about the structure of relatively hyperbolic groups. Outside of group theory, Teichmüller spaces for surfaces of sufficiently large complexity are thick with respect to the Weil–Peterson metric, in contrast with Brock–Farb’s hyperbolicity result in low complexity.     

The isomorphism problem for toral relatively hyperbolic groups

We provide a solution to the isomorphism problem for torsion-free relatively hyperbolic groups with abelian parabolics. As special cases we recover solutions to the isomorphism problem for: (i) torsion-free hyperbolic groups (Sela, [60] and unpublished); and (ii) finitely generated fully residually free groups (Bumagin, Kharlampovich and Miasnikov [14]). We also give a solution to the homeomorphism problem for finite volume hyperbolic n-manifolds, for n≥3. In the course of the proof of the main result, we prove that a particular JSJ decomposition of a freely indecomposable torsion-free relatively hyperbolic group with abelian parabolics is algorithmically constructible.     

Tree-graded spaces and asymptotic cones of groups

We introduce a concept of tree-graded metric space and we use it to show quasi-isometry invariance of certain classes of relatively hyperbolic groups, to obtain a characterization of relatively hyperbolic groups in terms of their asymptotic cones, to find geometric properties of Cayley graphs of relatively hyperbolic groups, and to construct the first example of a finitely generated group with a continuum of non-π₁-equivalent asymptotic cones. Note that by a result of Kramer, Shelah, Tent and Thomas, continuum is the maximal possible number of different asymptotic cones of a finitely generated group, provided that the Continuum Hypothesis is true.     

Dehn filling in relatively hyperbolic groups

We introduce a number of new tools for the study of relatively hyperbolic groups. First, given a relatively hyperbolic group G, we construct a nice combinatorial Gromov hyperbolic model space acted on properly by G, which reflects the relative hyperbolicity of G in many natural ways. Second, we construct two useful bicombings on this space. The first of these, preferred paths, is combinatorial in nature and allows us to define the second, a relatively hyperbolic version of a construction of Mineyev. As an application, we prove a group-theoretic analog of the Gromov-Thurston 2π Theorem in the context of relatively hyperbolic groups. The first author was supported in part by NSF Grant DMS-0504251. The second author was supported in part by an NSF Mathematical Sciences Post-doctoral Research Fellowship. Both authors thank the NSF for their support. Most of this work was done while both authors were Taussky-Todd Fellows at Caltech.     

Divergence spectra and Morse boundaries of relatively hyperbolic groups

We introduce a new quasi-isometry invariant, called the divergence spectrum, to study finitely generated groups. We compare the concept of divergence spectrum with the other classical notions of divergence and we examine the divergence spectra of relatively hyperbolic groups. We show the existence of an infinite collection of right-angled Coxeter groups which all have exponential divergence but they all have different divergence spectra. We also study Morse boundaries of relatively hyperbolic groups and examine their connection with Bowditch boundaries.     

Relative hyperbolicity,trees of spaces and Cannon-Thurston maps

We prove the existence of continuous boundary extensions (Cannon-Thurston maps) for the inclusion of a vertex space into a tree of (strongly) relatively hyperbolic spaces satisfying the qi-embedded condition. This implies the same result for inclusion of vertex (or edge) subgroups in finite graphs of (strongly) relatively hyperbolic groups. This generalizes a result of Bowditch for punctured surfaces in 3 manifolds and a result of Mitra for trees of hyperbolic metric spaces.     

Groups acting on tree-graded spaces and splittings of relatively hyperbolic groups

Tree-graded spaces are generalizations of R-trees. They appear as asymptotic cones of groups (when the cones have cut-points). Since many questions about endomorphisms and automorphisms of groups, solving equations over groups, studying embeddings of a group into another group, etc. lead to actions of groups on the asymptotic cones, it is natural to consider actions of groups on tree-graded spaces. We develop a theory of such actions which generalizes the well-known theory of groups acting on R-trees. As applications of our theory, we describe, in particular, relatively hyperbolic groups with infinite groups of outer automorphisms, and co-Hopfian relatively hyperbolic groups.     

Peripheral splittings of groups

We define the notion of a ``peripheral splitting' of a group. This is essentially a representation of the group as the fundamental group of a bipartite graph of groups, where all the vertex groups of one colour are held fixed--the ``peripheral subgroups'. We develop the theory of such splittings and prove an accessibility result. The theory mainly applies to relatively hyperbolic groups with connected boundary, where the peripheral subgroups are precisely the maximal parabolic subgroups. We show that if such a group admits a non-trivial peripheral splitting, then its boundary has a global cut point. Moreover, the non-peripheral vertex groups of such a splitting are themselves relatively hyperbolic. These results, together with results from elsewhere, show that under modest constraints on the peripheral subgroups, the boundary of a relatively hyperbolic group is locally connected if it is connected. In retrospect, one further deduces that the set of global cut points in such a boundary has a simplicial treelike structure.

     

Existential questions in (relatively) hyperbolic groups

We study the decidability of the existential theory of torsion free hyperbolic and relatively hyperbolic groups, in particular those with virtually abelian parabolic subgroups. We show that the satisfiability of systems of equations and inequations is decidable in these groups. Our tools are Rips and Sela’s canonical representatives for these groups, and solvability of equations with rational constraints (involving finite state automata) in free groups and free products.     

Limit sets of relatively hyperbolic groups

In this paper, we prove a limit set intersection theorem in relatively hyperbolic groups. Our approach is based on a study of dynamical quasiconvexity of relatively quasiconvex subgroups. Using dynamical quasiconvexity, many well-known results on limit sets of geometrically finite Kleinian groups are derived in general convergence groups. We also establish dynamical quasiconvexity of undistorted subgroups in finitely generated groups with nontrivial Floyd boundaries.     

Expansive Convergence Groups are Relatively Hyperbolic

Let a discrete group G act by homeomorphisms of a compactum in a way that the action is properly discontinuous on triples and cocompact on pairs. We prove that such an action is geometrically finite. The converse statement was proved by P. Tukia [T3]. So, we have another topological characterisation of geometrically finite convergence groups and, by the result of A. Yaman [Y2], of relatively hyperbolic groups. Further, if G is finitely generated then the parabolic subgroups are finitely generated and undistorted. This answer to a question of B. Bowditch and eliminates restrictions in some known theorems about relatively hyperbolic groups. Received: April 2007, Revision: May 2008, Accepted: August 2008     

Examples of Relatively Hyperbolic Groups

We present a new class of examples of relatively hyperbolic groups in the weak sense. We use the construction of relative hyperbolization of polyhedra the idea of which comes from M. Gromov but technically was elaborated by R. Charney, M. Davis and T. Januszkiewicz.     

Asymptotic windings of horocycles

Let Γ be a torsion-free hyperbolic group. We study Γ-limit groups which, unlike the fundamental case in which Γ is free, may not be finitely presentable or geometrically tractable. We define model Γ-limit groups, which always have good geometric properties (in particular, they are always relatively hyperbolic). Given a strict resolution of an arbitrary Γ-limit group L, we canonically construct a strict resolution of a model Γ-limit group, which encodes all homomorphisms L → Γ that factor through the given resolution. We propose this as the correct framework in which to study Γ-limit groups algorithmically. We enumerate all Γ-limit groups in this framework.     

Connectedness properties of limit sets

We study convergence group actions on continua, and give a criterion which ensures that every global cut point is a parabolic fixed point. We apply this result to the case of boundaries of relatively hyperbolic groups, and consider implications for connectedness properties of such spaces.

     

Coronae of product spaces and the coarse Baum–Connes conjecture

We study the coarse Baum–Connes conjecture for product spaces and product groups. We show that a product of CAT(0) groups, polycyclic groups and relatively hyperbolic groups which satisfy some assumptions on peripheral subgroups, satisfies the coarse Baum–Connes conjecture. For this purpose, we construct and analyze an appropriate compactification and its boundary, “corona”, of a product of proper metric spaces.     

Non-Wrapping of Hyperbolic Interval Bundles

We demonstrate a condition on the boundary at infinity of a hyperbolic interval bundle N that guarantees that, for any associated geometric limit, there is a compact core for N which embeds under the covering map. The proof involves an analysis of the geometry of torus cusps in a hyperbolic manifold, and techniques of Anderson, Canary and McCullough [AnCM]. Together with results of Holt–Souto [HS] this shows that the locus of non-local-connectivity of the space of once-punctured torus groups is not dense, and describes a relatively open subset of the boundary of the space of once-punctured torus groups consisting of points of non-self-bumping. Received: April 2006, Revision: May 2007, Accepted: December 2007     

Hyperbolicité relative des suspensions de groupes hyperboliques

After introducing the notion of group automorphism hyperbolic relative to a family of subgroups, we establish an analog of the Bestvina–Feighn's Combination Theorem for mapping-tori groups $\text{G}{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{=G?}{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{Z}$ of relatively hyperbolic automorphisms α of hyperbolic groups G. Both Farb's and Gromov's relative hyperbolicity are considered. To cite this article: F. Gautero, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 336 (2003).     

Boundary amenability of relatively hyperbolic groups

Let K be a fine hyperbolic graph and Γ be a group acting on K with finite quotient. We prove that Γ is exact provided that all vertex stabilizers are exact. In particular, a relatively hyperbolic group is exact if all its peripheral groups are exact. We prove this by showing that the group Γ acts amenably on a compact topological space. We include some applications to the theories of group von Neumann algebras and of measurable orbit equivalence relations.     

Hyperbolic subalgebras of hyperbolic Kac–Moody algebras

We investigate regular hyperbolic subalgebras of hyperbolic Kac–Moody algebras via their Weyl groups. We classify all subgroup relations between Weyl groups of hyperbolic Kac–Moody algebras, and show that for every pair of a group and subgroup there exists at least one corresponding pair of algebra and subalgebra. We find all types of regular hyperbolic subalgebras for a given hyperbolic Kac–Moody algebra, and present a finite algorithm classifying all embeddings.     

Canonical representatives and equations in hyperbolic groups

Summary We use canonical representatives in hyperbolic groups to reduce the theory of equations in (torsion-free) hyperbolic groups to the theory in free groups. As a result we get an effective procedure to decide if a system of equations in such groups has a solution. For free groups, this question was solved by Makanin [Ma]|and Razborov [Ra]. The case of quadratic equations in hyperbolic groups has already been solved by Lysenok [Ly]. Our whole construction plays an essential role in the solution of the isomorphism problem for (torsion-free) hyperbolic groups ([Se1],[Se2]).Oblatum 1-1992 & 1-XI-1994Partially supported by NSF grant DMS-9305848