Let $\mathcal{O}$ be a closed orientable 2-orbifold of negative Euler characteristic. Huebschmann constructed the Atiyah-Bott-Goldman type symplectic form $ω$ on the deformation space $\mathcal{C}(\mathcal{O})$ of convex projective structures on $\mathcal{O}$. We show that the deformation space $\mathcal{C}(\mathcal{O})$ of convex projective structures on $\mathcal{O}$ admits a global Darboux coordinates system with respect to $ω$. To this end, we show that $\mathcal{C}(\mathcal{O})$ can be decomposed into smaller symplectic spaces. In the course of the proof, we also study the deformation space $\mathcal{C}(\mathcal{O})$ for an orbifold $\mathcal{O}$ with boundary and construct the symplectic form on the deformation space of convex projective structures on $\mathcal{O}$ with fixed boundary holonomy.
We compute and analyse the moduli space of those real projective structures on a hyperbolic 3-orbifold that are modelled on a single ideal tetrahedron in projective space. Parameterisations are given in terms of classical invariants, traces, and geometric invariants, cross ratios.
A strictly convex real projective orbifold is equipped with a natural Finsler metric called the Hilbert metric. In the case that the projective structure is hyperbolic, the Hilbert metric and the hyperbolic metric coincide. We prove that the marked Hilbert length spectrum determines the projective structure only up to projective duality. A corollary is the existence of non-isometric diffeomorphic strictly convex projective manifolds (and orbifolds) that are isospectral. The corollary follows from work of Goldman and Choi, and Benoist.
By using Klein's model for hyperbolic geometry, hyperbolic structures on orbifolds or manifolds provide examples of real projective structures. By Andreev's theorem, many 3-dimensional reflection orbifolds admit a finite volume hyperbolic structure, and such a hyperbolic structure is unique. However, the induced real projective structure on some such 3-orbifolds deforms into a family of real projective structures that are not induced from hyperbolic structures. In this paper, we find new classes of compact and complete hyperbolic reflection 3-orbifolds with such deformations. We also explain n…
A real projective orbifold has a radial end if a neighborhood of the end is foliated by projective geodesics that develop into geodesics ending at a common point. It has a totally geodesic end if the end can be completed to have the totally geodesic boundary. The purpose of this paper is to announce some partial results. A real projective structure sometimes admits deformations to parameters of real projective structures. We will prove a homeomorphism between the deformation space of convex real projective structures on an orbifold $\mathcal{O}$ with radial or totally geodesic ends with variou…
Real projective structures on $n$-orbifolds are useful in understanding the space of representations of discrete groups into $\mathrm{SL}(n+1, \mathbb{R})$ or $\mathrm{PGL}(n+1, \mathbb{R})$. A recent work shows that many hyperbolic manifolds deform to manifolds with such structures not projectively equivalent to the original ones. The purpose of this paper is to understand the structures of ends of real projective $n$-dimensional orbifolds. In particular, these have the radial or totally geodesic ends. Hyperbolic manifolds with cusps and hyper-ideal ends are examples. For this, we will study …
Real projective structures on $n$-orbifolds are useful in understanding the space of representations of discrete groups into $SL(n+1, \mathbb{R})$ or $PGL(n+1, \mathbb{R})$. A recent work shows that many hyperbolic manifolds deform to manifolds with such structures not projectively equivalent to the original ones. The purpose of this paper is to understand the structures of ends of real projective $n$-dimensional orbifolds. In particular, these have the radial or totally geodesic ends. Hyperbolic manifolds with cusps and hyper-ideal ends are examples. For this, we will study the natural condit…
Real projective structures on $n$-orbifolds are useful in understanding the space of representations of discrete groups into $\mathrm{SL}(n+1, \mathbb{R})$ or $\mathrm{PGL}(n+1, \mathbb{R})$. A recent work shows that many hyperbolic manifolds deform to manifolds with such structures not projectively equivalent to the original ones. The purpose of this paper is to understand the structures of properly convex ends of real projective $n$-dimensional orbifolds. In particular, these have the radial or totally geodesic ends. For this, we will study the natural conditions on eigenvalues of holonomy r…
We associate to each symplectic $4$-orbifold $X$ a canonical smooth symplectic resolution $π: \tilde{X}\rightarrow X$, which can be done equivariantly if $X$ comes with a symplectic $G$-action by a finite group. Moreover, we show that the resolutions of the symplectic $4$-orbifolds $X/G$ and $\tilde{X}/G$ are in the same symplectic birational equivalence class; in fact, the resolution of $\tilde{X}/G$ can be reduced to that of $X/G$ by successively blowing down symplectic $(-1)$-spheres. To any finite symplectic $G$-action on a $4$-manifold $M$, we associate a pair $(M_G,D)$, where $π: M_G\rig…
A Coxeter $n$-orbifold is an $n$-dimensional orbifold based on a polytope with silvered boundary facets. Each pair of adjacent facets meet on a ridge of some order $m$, whose neighborhood is locally modeled on ${\mathbb R}^n$ modulo the dihedral group of order $2m$ generated by two reflections. For $n \geq 3$, we study the deformation space of real projective structures on a compact Coxeter $n$-orbifold $Q$ admitting a hyperbolic structure. Let $e_+(Q)$ be the number of ridges of order $\geq 3$. A neighborhood of the hyperbolic structure in the deformation space is a cell of dimension $e_+(Q) …
A study of certain symplectic $4$-orbifolds with vanishing canonical class is initiated. We show that for any such symplectic $4$-orbifold $X$, there is a canonically constructed symplectic $4$-orbifold $Y$, together with a cyclic orbifold covering $Y\rightarrow X$, such that $Y$ has at most isolated Du Val singularities and a trivial orbifold canonical line bundle. The minimal resolution of $Y$, to be denoted by $\tilde{Y}$, is a symplectic Calabi-Yau $4$-manifold endowed with a natural symplectic finite cyclic action, extending the deck transformations of the orbifold covering $Y\rightarrow …
Real projective structures on $n$-orbifolds are useful in understanding the space of representations of discrete groups into $\mathrm{SL}(n+1, \mathbb{R})$ or $\mathrm{PGL}(n+1, \mathbb{R})$. A recent work shows that many hyperbolic manifolds deform to manifolds with such structures not projectively equivalent to the original ones. The purpose of this paper is to understand the structures of ends of real projective $n$-dimensional orbifolds. In particular, these have the radial or totally geodesic ends. In previous papers, we classified properly convex or complete radial ends under suitable co…
A real projective orbifold is an $n$-dimensional orbifold modeled on $\mathbb{RP}^n$ with the group $PGL(n+1, \mathbb{R})$. We concentrate on an orbifold that contains a compact codimension $0$ submanifold whose complement is a union of neighborhoods of ends, diffeomorphic to closed $(n-1)$-dimensional orbifolds times intervals. A real projective orbifold has a {\it radial end} if a neighborhood of the end is foliated by projective geodesics that develop into geodesics ending at a common point. It has a {\it totally geodesic end} if the end can be completed to have the totally geodesic boundar…
Each lens space has a canonical contact structure which lifts to the distribution of complex lines on the three-sphere. In this paper, we show that a symplectic homology cobordism between two lens spaces, which is given with the canonical contact structure on the boundary, must be diffeomorphic to the product of a lens space with the unit interval. As one of the main ingredients in the proof, we also derive in this paper the adjunction and intersection formulae for pseudoholomorphic curves in an almost complex 4-orbifold, extending the relevant work of Gromov and McDuff in the manifold setting…
We discuss properties of complex algebraic orbifold groups, their characteristic varieties, and their abelian covers. In particular, we deal with the question of (quasi)-projectivity of orbifold groups. We also prove a structure theorem for the variety of characters of normal-crossing quasi-projective orbifold groups. Finally, we extend Sakuma's formula for the first Betti number of abelian covers of orbifold fundamental groups. Several examples are presented, including a compact orbifold group which is not projective and a Zariski pair of plane projective curves that can be told by considerin…
The main purpose of this paper is to summarize the basic ingredients, illustrated with examples, of a pseudoholomorphic curve theory for symplectic 4-orbifolds. These are extensions of relevant work of Gromov, McDuff and Taubes on symplectic 4-manifolds concerning pseudoholomorphic curves and Seiberg-Witten theory. They form the technical backbone of the proof that a symplectic s-cobordism of elliptic 3-manifolds (with a canonical contact structure on the boundary) is smoothly a product. One interesting feature of the theory is that existence of pseudoholomorphic curves gives certain restricti…
In this survey, we study representations of finitely generated groups into Lie groups, focusing on the deformation spaces of convex real projective structures on closed manifolds and orbifolds, with an excursion on projective structures on surfaces. We survey the basics of the theory of character varieties, geometric structures on orbifolds, and Hilbert geometry. The main examples of finitely generated groups for us will be Fuchsian groups, 3-manifold groups and Coxeter groups.
We determine that the deformation space of convex real projective structures, that is, projectively flat torsion-free connections with the geodesic convexity property on a compact 2-orbifold of negative Euler characteristic is homeomorphic to a cell of certain dimension. The basic techniques are from Thurston's lecture notes on hyperbolic 2-orbifolds, and the previous work of Goldman on convex real projective structures on surfaces.
The present paper describes a relation between the quotient of the fundamental group of a smooth quasi-projective variety by its second commutator and the existence of maps to orbifold curves. It extends previously studied cases when the target was a smooth curve. In the case when the quasi-projective variety is a complement to a plane algebraic curve this provides new relations between the fundamental group, the equation of the curve, and the existence of polynomial solutions to certain equations generalizing Pell's equation. These relations are formulated in terms of the depth which is an in…
After reviewing recent results on symplectic Lefschetz pencils and symplectic branched covers of CP^2, we describe a new construction of maps from symplectic manifolds of any dimension to CP^2 and the associated monodromy invariants. We also show that a dimensional induction process makes it possible to describe any compact symplectic manifold by a series of words in braid groups and a word in a symmetric group.
For $d=4, 5, 6$, we exhibit the first examples of complete finite volume hyperbolic $d$-manifolds $M$ with cusps such that infinitely many $d$-orbifolds $M_{m}$ obtained from $M$ by generalized Dehn filling admit properly convex real projective structures. The orbifold fundamental groups of $M_m$ are Gromov-hyperbolic relative to a collection of subgroups virtually isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}^{d-2}$, hence the images of the developing maps of the projective structures on $M_m$ are new examples of divisible properly convex domains of the projective $d$-space which are not strictly convex, in cont…
