We give an alternative proof to Agol's classification of parabolic generating pairs of non-free Kleinian groups generated by two parabolic transformations. As an application, we give a complete characterisation of epimorphims between $2$-bridge knot groups and a complete characterisation of degree one maps between the exteriors of hyperbolic $2$-bridge links.
In earlier work we introduced geometrically natural probability measures on the group of all Möbius transformations in order to study "random" groups of Möbius transformations, random surfaces, and in particular random two-generator groups, that is groups where the generators are selected randomly, with a view to estimating the likely-hood that such groups are discrete and then to make calculations of the expectation of their associated parameters, geometry and topology. In this paper we continue that study and identify the precise probability that a Fuchsian group generated by two parabolic M…
We characterize sequences of Kleinian surface groups with convergent subsequences in terms of the asymptotic behavior of the ending invariants of the associated hyperbolic 3-manifolds. Asymptotic behavior of end invariants in a convergent sequence predicts the parabolic locus of the algebraic limit as well as how the algebraic limit wraps within the geometric limit under the natural locally isometric covering map.
We show that Cannon-Thurston maps exist for degenerate free groups without parabolics, i.e. for handlebody groups. Combining these techniques with earlier work proving the existence of Cannon-Thurston maps for surface groups, we show that Cannon-Thurston maps exist for arbitrary finitely generated Kleinian groups without parabolics, proving conjectures of Thurston and McMullen. We also show that point pre-images under Cannon-Thurston maps for degenerate free groups without parabolics correspond to end-points of leaves of an ending lamination in the Masur domain, whenever a point has more than …
Any action of a group $Γ$ on $\mathbb H^3$ by isometries yields a class in degree three bounded cohomology by pulling back the volume cocycle to $Γ$. We prove that the bounded cohomology of finitely generated Kleinian groups without parabolic elements distinguishes the asymptotic geometry of geometrically infinite ends of hyperbolic $3$-manifolds. That is, if two homotopy equivalent hyperbolic manifolds with infinite volume and without parabolic cusps have different geometrically infinite end invariants, then they define a $2$ dimensional subspace of bounded cohomology. Our techniques apply to…
We prove an inequality that must be satisfied by displacement of generators of free Fuchsian groups, which is the two-dimensional version of the $\log (2k-1)$ Theorem for Kleinian groups due to Anderson-Canary-Culler-Shalen. As applications, we obtain quantitative results on the geometry of hyperbolic surfaces such as the two-dimensional Margulis constant and lengths of closed curves, which improves a result of Buser's.
We study certain polynomial trace identities in the group $SL(2,\IC)$ and their application in the theory of discrete groups. We obtain canonical representations for two generator groups in §4 and then in §5 we give a new proof for Gehring and Martin's polynomial trace identities for good words, and extend that result to a larger class which is also closed under a semigroup operation inducing polynomial composition. This new approach is through the use of quaternion algebras over indefinites and an associated group of units. We obtain structure theorems for these quaternion algebras which appe…
We give a detailed account of Agol's theorem and his proof concerning two-meridional-generator subgroups of hyperbolic 2-bridge link groups, which is included in the slide of his talk at the Bolyai conference 2001. We also give a generalization of the theorem to two-parabolic-generator subgroups of hyperbolic 3-manifold groups, which gives a refinement of a result due to Boileau-Weidmann.
Let G be a two generator subgroup of PSL(2,C). The Jorgensen number J(G) of G is defined by J(G)=inf{ |tr^2 A-4|+|tr[A,B]-2| ; G=<A,B>}. If G is a non-elementary Kleinian group, then J(G) >= 1. This inequality is called Jorgensen's inequality. In this paper, we show that, for any r >= 1, there exists a non-elementary Kleinian group whose Jorgensen number is equal to r. This answers a question posed by Oichi and Sato. We also present our computer generated picture which estimates Jorgensen numbers from above in the diagonal slice of Schottky space.
We study the Bowditch boundaries of relatively hyperbolic group pairs, focusing on the case where there are no cut points. We show that if $(G,\mathcal{P})$ is a rigid relatively hyperbolic group pair whose boundary embeds in $S^2$, then the action on the boundary extends to a convergence group action on $S^2$. More generally, if the boundary is connected and planar with no cut points, we show that every element of $\mathcal{P}$ is virtually a surface group. This conclusion is consistent with the conjecture that such a group $G$ is virtually Kleinian. We give numerous examples to show the nece…
The Gehring-Martin-Tan inequality for 2-generator subgroups of PSL(2,C) is one of the best known discreteness conditions. A Kleinian group $G$ is called a Gehring-Martin-Tan group if the equality holds for the group $G$. We give a method for constructing Gehring-Martin-Tan groups with a generator of order four and present some examples. These groups arise as groups of finite volume hyperbolic 3-orbifolds.