English

The free splitting complex of a free group I: Hyperbolicity

Group Theory 2014-11-11 v2 Geometric Topology

Abstract

We prove that the free splitting complex of a finite rank free group, also known as Hatcher's sphere complex, is hyperbolic.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1111.1994,
  title  = {The free splitting complex of a free group I: Hyperbolicity},
  author = {Michael Handel and Lee Mosher},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1111.1994},
  year   = {2014}
}

Comments

85 pages, including index and glossary. Many figures in the free splitting complex, in the guise of commutative diagrams of maps between free splittings. Changes from Version 1 to Version 2: Corrected an error in the proof of Proposition 6.5, Step 2. Revamped the theory of free splitting units in Section 5