
Combinatorics of Train Tracks
Princeton University Press
Published on 23. December 1991
Book
Paperback/Softback
232 pages
978-0-691-02531-5 (ISBN)
Description
Measured geodesic laminations are a natural generalization of simple closed curves in surfaces, and they play a decisive role in various developments in two-and three-dimensional topology, geometry, and dynamical systems. This book presents a self-contained and comprehensive treatment of the rich combinatorial structure of the space of measured geodesic laminations in a fixed surface. Families of measured geodesic laminations are described by specifying a train track in the surface, and the space of measured geodesic laminations is analyzed by studying properties of train tracks in the surface. The material is developed from first principles, the techniques employed are essentially combinatorial, and only a minimal background is required on the part of the reader. Specifically, familiarity with elementary differential topology and hyperbolic geometry is assumed. The first chapter treats the basic theory of train tracks as discovered by W. P. Thurston, including recurrence, transverse recurrence, and the explicit construction of a measured geodesic lamination from a measured train track. The subsequent chapters develop certain material from R. C.
Penner's thesis, including a natural equivalence relation on measured train tracks and standard models for the equivalence classes (which are used to analyze the topology and geometry of the space of measured geodesic laminations), a duality between transverse and tangential structures on a train track, and the explicit computation of the action of the mapping class group on the space of measured geodesic laminations in the surface.
Penner's thesis, including a natural equivalence relation on measured train tracks and standard models for the equivalence classes (which are used to analyze the topology and geometry of the space of measured geodesic laminations), a duality between transverse and tangential structures on a train track, and the explicit computation of the action of the mapping class group on the space of measured geodesic laminations in the surface.
Reviews / Votes
"The book is beautifully written, with a clear path of theoretical development amid a wealth of detail for the technician... [T]his text provides a valuable reference work as well as a readable introduction for the student or newcomer to the area."--Zentralblatt for MathematikMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
360 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-02531-5 (9780691025315)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Robert C. Penner | John L. Harer
Combinatorics of Train Tracks
E-Book
06/2016
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
€109.99
Available for download
Persons
R. C. Penner & John L. Harer
Content
PrefaceAcknowledgementsCh. 1The Basic Theory31.1Train Tracks41.2Multiple Curves and Dehn's Theorem101.3Recurrence and Transverse Recurrence181.4Genericity and Transverse Recurrence391.5Trainpaths and Transverse Recurrence601.6Laminations681.7Measured Laminations821.8Bounded Surfaces and Tracks with Stops102Ch. 2Combinatorial Equivalence1152.1Splitting, Shifting, and Carrying1162.2Equivalence of Birecurrent Train Tracks1242.3Splitting versus Shifting1272.4Equivalence versus Carrying1332.5Splitting and Efficiency1392.6The Standard Models1452.7Existence of the Standard Models1542.8Uniqueness of the Standard Models160Ch. 3The Structure of ML[subscript 0]1733.1The Topology of ML[subscript 0] and PL[subscript 0]1743.2The Symplectic Structure of ML[subscript 0]1823.3Topological Equivalence1883.4Duality and Tangential Coordinates191Epilogue204Addendum The Action of Mapping Classes on ML[subscript 0]210Bibliography214