Culler–Vogtmann Outer space

E634851

Culler–Vogtmann Outer space is a topological space that parametrizes marked metric graphs, serving as an analogue of Teichmüller space for studying the outer automorphism group of a free group.

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mathematical object
parameter space
topological space
actionType properly discontinuous action of Out(F_n)
alsoKnownAs Outer space NERFINISHED
analogueOf Teichmüller space NERFINISHED
analogyWith Teichmüller space of a surface NERFINISHED
baseGraph rose with n petals
boundaryConcept space of very small F_n-actions on R-trees
contains open simplices corresponding to fixed graph combinatorial types
definedFor free group F_n
dimension 3n-4 for rank n ≥ 2
equivalenceRelation change of marking by graph isometry preserving edge lengths
field geometric group theory
group theory
topology
generalizationOf space of metric graphs of rank n with markings
graphCondition graphs are finite, connected, with no vertices of valence 1
graphRankCondition fundamental group of each graph is free of rank n
groupActsOn Out(F_n) NERFINISHED
hasPoint equivalence class of a marked metric graph of rank n
hasProperty Out(F_n)-invariant
contractible
locally finite-dimensional
not locally compact
hasStructure simplicial complex up to missing faces
hasSubspace spine of Outer space
introducedBy Karen Vogtmann NERFINISHED
Marc Culler NERFINISHED
introducedInYear 1986
markingDefinition homotopy equivalence from a fixed reference rose to the graph
metricCondition edge lengths are positive real numbers
normalizationCondition total volume of each graph is 1
parametrizes free, minimal, isometric actions of free groups on metric graphs
marked metric graphs
quotientBy Out(F_n) NERFINISHED
quotientInterpretedAs analogue of moduli space of graphs
rankParameter n ≥ 2
relatedConcept Outer space boundary
curve complex
free factor complex
spineProperty spine is a contractible simplicial complex with cocompact Out(F_n)-action
topologyInducedBy simplicial coordinates of edge lengths
usedFor constructing invariants of Out(F_n)
defining train track representatives of automorphisms
studying dynamics of automorphisms of free groups
usedToStudy Out(F_n) NERFINISHED
outer automorphism group of a free group

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Karen Vogtmann coDeveloperOf Culler–Vogtmann Outer space