Abstract
In this paper we consider strata of flat metrics coming from quadratic differentials (semi-translation structures) on surfaces of finite type. We provide a necessary and sufficient condition for a set of simple closed curves to be spectrally rigid over a stratum with enough complexity, extending a result of Duchin–Leininger–Rafi. Specifically, for any stratum with more zeroes than the genus, the \(\Sigma \)-length-spectrum of a set of simple closed curves \(\Sigma \) determines the flat metric in the stratum if and only if \(\Sigma \) is dense in the projective measured foliation space. We also prove that flat metrics in any stratum are locally determined by the \(\Sigma \)-length-spectrum of a finite set of closed curves \(\Sigma \).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Duchin, M., Leininger, C.J., Rafi, K.: Length spectra and degeneration of flat metrics. Invent. Math. 182(2), 231–277 (2010). doi:10.1007/s00222-010-0262-y
Fathi, A., Laudenbach, F., Poénaru, V.: Travaux de Thurston sur les surfaces, Société Mathématique de France, Paris, 1991 (French). Séminaire Orsay; Reprint of Travaux de Thurston sur les surfaces, Soc. Math. France, Paris, 1979; Astérisque No. 66–67 (1991)
Masur, H.: Interval exchange transformations and measured foliations. Ann. Math. (2) 115(1), 169–200 (1982). doi:10.2307/1971341
Penner, R.C., Harer, J.L.: Combinatorics of Train Tracks, Annals of Mathematics Studies, vol. 125. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ (1992)
Rafi, K.: A characterization of short curves of a Teichmüller geodesic. Geom. Topol. 9, 179–202 (2005). doi:10.2140/gt.2005.9.179
Strebel, K.: Quadratic differentials, Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete (3) [Results in Mathematics and Related Areas (3)], vol. 5. Springer, Berlin (1984)
Thurston, W.P.: The Geometry and Topology of Three-Manifolds, Princeton Lecture Notes (1980)
Veech, W.A.: The Teichmüller geodesic flow. Ann. Math. (2) 124(3), 441–530 (1986). doi:10.2307/2007091
Vorobets, Y.: Periodic Geodesics on Generic Translation Surfaces, Algebraic and Topological Dynamics, Contemp. Math., vol. 385, pp. 205–258. American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI (2005). doi:10.1090/conm/385/07199; (to appear in print)
Zorich, A.: Flat Surfaces, Frontiers in Number Theory, Physics, and Geometry. I, pp. 437–583. Springer, Berlin (2006). doi:10.1007/978-3-540-31347-2-13; (to appear in print)
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank his advisor Chris Leininger for all the guidance in the process of this work. The author would also like to thank the anonymous referee for the helpful comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fu, SW. Length spectra and strata of flat metrics. Geom Dedicata 173, 281–298 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10711-013-9942-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10711-013-9942-2