Unicorn paths and hyperfiniteness for the mapping class group

Let S be an orientable surface of finite type. Using Pho-on’s infinite unicorn paths, we prove the hyperfiniteness of orbit equivalence relations induced by the actions of the mapping class group of S on the Gromov boundaries of the arc graph and the curve graph of S. In the curve graph case, this strengthens the results of Hamenstädt and Kida that this action is universally amenable and that the mapping class group of S is exact.

Edge-preserving maps of the nonseparating curve graphs, curve graphs and rectangle preserving maps of the Hatcher–Thurston graphs

Let [Formula: see text] be a compact, connected, orientable surface of genus [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] boundary components with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be the nonseparating curve graph, [Formula: see text] be the curve graph and [Formula: see text] be the Hatcher–Thurston graph of [Formula: see text]. We prove that if [Formula: see text] is an edge-preserving map, then [Formula: see text] is induced by a homeomorphism of [Formula: see text]. We prove that if [Formula: see text] is an edge-preserving map, then [Formula: see text] is induced by a homeomorphism of [Formula: see text]. We prove that if [Formula: see text] is closed and [Formula: see text] is a rectangle preserving map, then [Formula: see text] is induced by a homeomorphism of [Formula: see text]. We also prove that these homeomorphisms are unique up to isotopy when [Formula: see text].

From Hierarchical to Relative Hyperbolicity

We provide a simple, combinatorial criteria for a hierarchically hyperbolic space to be relatively hyperbolic by proving a new formulation of relative hyperbolicity in terms of hierarchy structures. In the case of clean hierarchically hyperbolic groups, this criteria characterizes relative hyperbolicity. We apply our criteria to graphs associated to surfaces and prove that the separating curve graph of a surface is relatively hyperbolic when the surface has zero or two punctures. We also recover a celebrated theorem of Brock and Masur on the relative hyperbolicity of the Weil–Petersson metric on Teichmüller space for surfaces with complexity three.

Garside theory and subsurfaces: Some examples in braid groups

Garside-theoretical solutions to the conjugacy problem in braid groups depend on the determination of a characteristic subset of the conjugacy class of any given braid, e.g. the sliding circuit set. It is conjectured that, among rigid braids with a fixed number of strands, the size of this set is bounded by a polynomial in the length of the braids. In this paper we suggest a more precise bound: for rigid braids with N strands and of Garside length L, the sliding circuit set should have at most {C\cdot L^{N-2}} elements, for some constant C. We construct a family of braids which realise this potential worst case. Our example braids suggest that having a large sliding circuit set is a geometric property of braids, as our examples have multiple subsurfaces with large subsurface projection; thus they are “almost reducible” in multiple ways, and act on the curve graph with small translation distance.