Riemann surfaces of second kind and effective finiteness theorems

Abstract

The Geometric Shafarevich Conjecture and the Theorem of de Franchis state the finiteness of the number of certain holomorphic objects on closed or punctured Riemann surfaces. The analog of these kind of theorems for Riemann surfaces of second kind is an estimate of the number of irreducible holomorphic objects up to homotopy (or isotopy, respectively). This analog can be interpreted as a quantitatve statement on the limitation for Gromov’s Oka principle. For any finite open Riemann surface X (maybe, of second kind) we give an effective upper bound for the number of irreducible holomorphic mappings up to homotopy from X to the twice punctured complex plane, and an effective upper bound for the number of irreducible holomorphic torus bundles up to isotopy on such a Riemann surface. The bound depends on a conformal invariant of the Riemann surface. If $X_{\sigma }$ is the $\sigma$-neighbourhood of a skeleton of an open Riemann surface with finitely generated fundamental group, then the number of irreducible holomorphic mappings up to homotopy from $X_{\sigma }$ to the twice punctured complex plane grows exponentially in $\frac{1}{\sigma }$.

1 Introduction and statements of results

It seems that the oldest finiteness theorem for mappings between complex manifolds is the following theorem, which was published by de Franchis [5] in 1913.

Theorem A

(de Franchis) For closed connected Riemann surfaces X and Y with Y of genus at least 2 there are at most finitely many non-constant holomorphic mappings from X to Y.

There is a more comprehensive Theorem in this spirit.

Theorem B

(de Franchis-Severi) For a closed connected Riemann surface X there are (up to isomorphism) only finitely many non-constant holomorphic mappings $f:X\rightarrow Y$ where Y ranges over all closed Riemann surfaces of genus at least 2.

A finiteness theorem which became more famous because of its relation to number theory was conjectured by Shafarevich [27].

Theorem C

(Geometric Shafarevich conjecture) For a given compact or punctured Riemann surface X and given non-negative numbers $\textsf {g}$ and $\textsf {m}$ such that $2\textsf {g}-2+\textsf {m} >0$ there are only finitely many locally holomorphically non-trivial holomorphic fiber bundles over X with fiber of type $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$.

A connected closed Riemann surface (or a smooth connected closed surface) is called of type $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$, if it has genus ${\textsf {g}}$ and is equipped with ${\textsf {m}}$ distinguished points. Recall that a closed Riemann surface with a finite number of points removed is called a punctured Riemann surface. The removed points are called punctures. Sometimes it is convenient to associate a punctured Riemann surface to a Riemann surface of type $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$ by removing the distinguished points. A Riemann surface is called finite if its fundamental group is finitely generated, and open if no connected component is compact. A finite connected Riemann surface is called of first kind, if it is a closed or a punctured Riemann surface, otherwise it is called of second kind.

Each finite connected open Riemann surface X is conformally equivalent to a domain (denoted again by X) on a closed Riemann surface $X^c$ such that each connected component of the complement $X^c {\setminus } X$ is either a point or a closed topological disc with smooth boundary [29]. The connected components of the complement will be called holes. A finite Riemann surface X is of first kind, if and only if all connected components of $X^c {\setminus } X$ are points. We will say that a connected finite open Riemann surface has only thick ends if all connected components of $X^c {\setminus } X$ are closed topological discs.

Each finite Riemann surface whose universal covering is equal to the upper half-plane ${\mathbb {C}}_+$ (a finite hyperbolic Riemann surface for short) is conformally equivalent to the quotient of ${\mathbb {C}}_+$ by a Fuchsian group. The Riemann surface is of first kind if and only if the Fuchsian group is of first kind [22, II, Theorem 3.2]. We will not make use of Fuchsian groups here.

Theorem C was conjectured by Shafarevich [27] in the case of compact base and fibers of type $(\textsf {g},0)$. It was proved by Parshin [26] in the case of compact base and fibers of type $(\textsf {g},0),\,\textsf {g}\ge 2,$ and by Arakelov [2] for punctured Riemann surfaces as base and fibers of type $(\textsf {g},0)$. Imayoshi and Shiga [15] gave a proof of the quoted version using Teichmüller theory.

The statement of Theorem C “almost” contains the so called Finiteness Theorem of Sections which is also called the Geometric Mordell conjecture (see [24]), giving an important conceptional connection between geometry and number theory. For more details we refer to the surveys by McMullen [24] and Mazur [23].

Theorem A is a consequence of Theorem C, and Theorem A has analogs for the source X and the target Y being punctured Riemann surfaces. Indeed, we may associate to any holomorphic mapping $f:X\rightarrow Y$ of Theorem A the bundle over X with fiber over $x\in X$ equal to Y with distinguished point $\{f(x)\}$. Thus, the fibers are of type $(\textsf {g},1)$. A holomorphic self-isomorphism of a locally holomorphically non-trivial $(\textsf {g},1)$-bundle may lead to a new holomorphic mapping from X to Y, but there are only finitely many different holomorphic self-isomorphisms.

We will consider here analogs of Theorems A and C for the case when the base X is a Riemann surface of second kind. Notice that finite hyperbolic Riemann surfaces of second kind are interesting from the point of view of spectral theory of the Laplace operator with respect to the hyperbolic metric (see also [3]). There are interesting relations to scattering theory and (the Hausdoff dimension of) the limit set of the Fuchsian group defining X.

The Theorems A and C do not hold literally if the base X is of second kind. If the base is a Riemann surface of second kind the problem to be considered is the finiteness of the number of irreducible isotopy classes (homotopy classes, respectively) containing holomorphic objects. In case the base is a punctured Riemann surface this is equivalent to the finiteness of the number of holomorphic objects. For more detail see Sects. 3 and 4.

We will prove finiteness theorems with effective estimates for Riemann surfaces of second kind. The estimates depend on a conformal invariant of the base manifold. To define the invariant we recall Ahlfors’ definition of extremal length (see [1]). For an annulus $A=\{0\le r<|z|<R\le \infty \}$ (and for any open set that is conformally equivalent to A) the extremal length equals $\frac{2\pi }{\log \frac{R}{r}}$. For an open rectangle $R= \{z=x+iy:0<x<{\textsf {b}},\,0<y<{\textsf {a}}\,\}$ in the plane with sides parallel to the axes, and with horizontal side length $\textsf {b}$ and vertical side length $\textsf {a}$ the extremal length equals $\lambda (R)=\frac{{\textsf {a}}}{{\textsf {b}}}$. For a conformal mapping $\omega :R\rightarrow U$ of the rectangle R onto a domain $U\subset {\mathbb {C}}$ the image U is called a curvilinear rectangle, if $\omega$ extends to a continuous mapping on the closure ${\bar{R}}$, and the restriction to each (closed) side of R is a homeomorphism onto its image. The images of the vertical (horizontal, respectively) sides of R are called the vertical (horizontal, respectively) curvilinear sides of the curvilinear rectangle $\omega (R)$. The extremal length of the curvilinear rectangle U equals the extremal length of R. (See [1]).

Let X be a connected open Riemann surface of genus $g\ge 0$ with $m+1$ holes, $m\ge 0$, equipped with a base point $q_0$. The fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ of X is a free group in $2g+m$ generators. We describe now the conformal invariant of the Riemann surface X that will appear in the mentioned estimate. We take a bouquet of non-contractible circles S in X with base point $q_0$, such that $q_0$ is the only common point of any pair of circles in S. Moreover, S is the union of simple closed oriented curves $\alpha _j,\,\beta _j$, $j=1,\ldots ,g',$ and $\gamma _{k}$, $k=1,\ldots ,m'$, with base point $q_0$ with the following property. Labeling the rays of the loops emerging from the base point $q_0$ by $\alpha _j^-,\,\beta _j^-$ $\gamma _j^-$, and the incoming rays by $\alpha _j^+,\,\beta _j^+$ $\gamma _j^+$, we require that when moving in counterclockwise direction along a small circle around $q_0$ we meet the rays in the order

$$\begin{aligned} \ldots , \alpha ^-_j,\beta ^-_j,\alpha ^+_j,\beta ^+_j,\ldots , \gamma ^-_k,\gamma ^+_k,\ldots \;. \end{aligned}$$

Fig. 1

A standard bouquet of circles for a connected finite open Riemann surface

(See Fig. 1.) We call such a bouquet of circles a standard bouquet of circles contained in X. If the collection ${\mathcal {E}}$ of elements of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ represented by the collection of curves in S is a system of generators of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ (then in particular, $g'=g$, $m'=m$), we call S a standard bouquet of circles for X, and say that the system ${\mathcal {E}}$ is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for X.

The existence of a standard bouquet of circles for a connected finite open Riemann surface can be seen by looking at a fundamental polygon of the compact Riemann surface $X^c$ that contains a lift of each hole of X. The pairs of curves $\alpha _j$, $\beta _j$ correspond to the handles of $X^c$. Each curve $\gamma _k,\, k=1,\ldots ,m$, surrounds a connected component ${\mathcal {C}}_k$ of $X^c{\setminus } X$ counterclockwise. More precisely, $\gamma _{k}$ is contractible in $X\cup {\mathcal {C}}_k$ and divides X into two connected components, one of them containing ${\mathcal {C}}_k$. Moreover, moving along $\gamma _k$ we see ${\mathcal {C}}_k$ on the left.

Vice versa, if a connected open Riemann surface X contains a standard bouquet of circles consisting of g pairs of curves $\alpha _j$,$\beta _j$, and m curves $\gamma _k$ as above, that represent a system of generators of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$, then X has genus g and m holes. To see this we cut the compact Riemann surface $X^c$ along the $\alpha _j$, $\beta _j$ and obtain a fundamental polygon which corresponds to a closed Riemann surface of genus g. The $\gamma _k$ are contractible in $X^c$, hence, each of them surrounds a hole.

Label the generators ${\mathcal {E}}\subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ of a standard bouquet of circles for X as follows. The elements $e_{2j-1,0}\in \pi _1(X,q_0),$ $j=1,\ldots ,g,$ are represented by $\alpha _j$, the elements $e_{2j,0}\in \pi _1(X,q_0) , \, j=1,\ldots ,g,$ are represented by $\beta _j$, and the elements $e_{2g+k,0}\in \pi _1(X,q_0), \, k=1,\ldots ,m,$ of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ are represented by $\gamma _k$. A standard bouquet of circles for a connected finite open Riemann surface is a deformation retract of X. We will fix the system of generators ${\mathcal {E}}$ of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ throughout the paper.

Let ${{\tilde{X}}}$ be the universal covering of X. For each element $e_0 \in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ we consider the subgroup $\langle e_0\rangle$ of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ generated by $e_0$. Let $\sigma (e_0)$ be the covering transformation corresponding to $e_0$, and $\langle \sigma ( e_0) \rangle$ the group generated by $\sigma (e_0)$.

Definition 1

Denote by ${\mathcal {E}}_j,\, j=2,\ldots ,10,$ the set of primitive elements of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ which can be written as product of at most j factors with each factor being either an element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ or an element of ${\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$, the set of inverses of elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$. Define $\lambda _j=\lambda _j(X)$ as the maximum over $e_0 \in {\mathcal {E}}_j$ of the extremal length of the annulus ${\tilde{X}} \diagup \langle \sigma ( e_0) \rangle$.

The quantity $\lambda _7(X)$ (for mappings to the twice punctured complex plane), or $\lambda _{10}(X)$ (for (1, 1)-bundles) is the mentioned conformal invariant.

Let E be a finite subset of the Riemann sphere ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ which contains at least three points. Let X be a finite open Riemann surface with non-trivial fundamental group. A continuous map $f:X \rightarrow {\mathbb {P}}^1{\setminus } E$ is reducible if it is homotopic (as a mapping to ${\mathbb {P}}^1{\setminus } E$) to a mapping whose image is contained in $D{\setminus } E$ for an open topological disc $D\subset {\mathbb {P}}^1$ with $E{\setminus } D$ containing at least two points of E. Otherwise the mapping is called irreducible.

In the following theorem we take $E=\{-1,1,\infty \}$. We will often refer to ${\mathbb {P}}^1{\setminus } \{-1,1,\infty \}$ as the thrice punctured Riemann sphere or the twice punctured complex plane ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. Note that a continuous mapping from a Riemann surface to the twice punctured complex plane is reducible, iff it is homotopic to a mapping with image in a once punctured disc contained in ${\mathbb {P}}^1{\setminus } E$. (The puncture may be equal to $\infty$.) There are countably many non-homotopic reducible holomorphic mappings with target being the twice punctured complex plane and source being any finite open Riemann surface with only thick ends and non-trivial fundamental group (see the proof of Lemma 15 in [20]). On the other hand the following theorem holds.

Theorem 1

For each open connected Riemann surface X of genus $g\ge 0$ with $m+1\ge 1$ holes there are up to homotopy at most $3(\frac{3}{2}e^{24\pi \lambda _7(X)})^{2g+m}$ irreducible holomorphic mappings from X into $Y{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}{\mathbb {P}}^1{\setminus } \{-1,1,\infty \}$.

Notice that the Riemann surface X is allowed to be of second kind. If X is a torus with a hole, $\lambda _7(X)$ may be replaced by $\lambda _3(X)$. If X is a planar domain, $\lambda _7(X)$ may be replaced by $\lambda _4(X)$

A holomorphic (1, 0)-bundle is also called a holomorphic torus bundle. A holomorphic torus bundle equipped with a holomorphic section is also considered as a holomorphic (1, 1)-bundle. The following lemma holds.

Lemma D

A smooth (0, 1)-bundle admits a smooth section. A holomorphic torus bundle is (smoothly) isotopic to a holomorphic torus bundle that admits a holomorphic section.

For a proof see [20].

Theorem 2

Let X be an open connected Riemann surface of genus $g\ge 0$ with $m+1\ge 1$ holes. Up to isotopy there are no more than $\big (2 \times 15^6\times \exp (36 \pi \lambda _{10}(X))\big )^{2g+m}$ irreducible holomorphic (1, 1)-bundles over X.

For the definition of irreducible $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$-bundles see Sect. 4 below. Since on each finite open Riemann surface with only thick ends and non-trivial fundamental group there are countably many non-homotopic reducible holomorphic mappings with target being the twice punctured complex plane, there are also countably many non-isotopic holomorphic (1, 1)-bundles over each such Riemann surface (see Proposition 5 below).

We wish to point out that reducible $(\textsf {g,m})$-bundles over finite open Riemann surfaces can be decomposed into irreducible bundle components, and each reducible bundle is determined by its bundle components up to commuting Dehn twists in the fiber over the base point. (For details see [20].)

Notice that Caporaso proved the existence of a uniform bound for the number of objects in Theorem C in case X is a closed Riemann surface of genus g with m punctures, and the fibers are closed Riemann surfaces of genus $\textsf {g} \ge 2$. The bound depends only on the numbers g, $\textsf {g}$ and m. Heier gave effective uniform estimates, but the constants are huge and depend in a complicated way on the parameters.

Theorems 1 and 2 imply effective estimates for the number of locally holomorphically non-trivial holomorphic (1, 1)-bundles over punctured Riemann surfaces, however, the constants depend also on the conformal type of the base. More precisely, the following corollaries hold.

Corollary 1

There are no more than $3(\frac{3}{2}e^{24 \pi \lambda _7(X)})^{2g+m}$ non-constant holomorphic mappings from a Riemann surface X of type $(g,m+1)$ to ${\mathbb {P}}^1{\setminus } \{-1,1,\infty \}$.

Corollary 2

There are no more than $\big (2 \times 15^6\times \exp (36 \pi \lambda _{10}(X))\big )^{2g+m}$ locally holomorphically non-trivial holomorphic (1, 1)-bundles over a Riemann surface X of type $(g,m+1)$.

The following examples demonstrate the different nature of the problem in the two cases, the case when the base is a punctured Riemann surface, and when it is a Riemann surface of second kind.

Example 1

There are no non-constant holomorphic mappings from a torus with one puncture to the twice punctured complex plane. Indeed, by Picard’s Theorem each such mapping extends to a meromorphic mapping from the closed torus to the Riemann sphere. This implies that the preimage of the set $\{-1,1,\infty \}$ under the extended mapping must contain at least three points, which is impossible.

The situation changes if X is a torus with a large enough hole. Let $\alpha \ge 1$ and $\sigma \in (0,1)$. Consider the torus with a hole $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ that is obtained from (with $\alpha \ge 1$ being a real number) by removing a closed geometric rectangle of vertical side length $\alpha -\sigma$ and horizontal side length $1-\sigma$ (i.e. we remove a closed subset that lifts to such a closed rectangle in ${\mathbb {C}}$). A fundamental domain for this Riemann surface is “the golden cross on the Swedish flag” turned by $\frac{\pi }{2}$ with width of the laths being $\sigma$ and length of the laths being 1 and $\alpha$.

Proposition 1

Up to homotopy there are at most $7 e^{3\times 2^4 \pi \frac{2\alpha +1}{\sigma }}$ irreducible holomorphic mappings from $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ to the twice punctured complex plane.

On the other hand, there are positive constants c, C, and $\sigma _0$ such that for any positive number $\sigma <\sigma _0$ and any $\alpha >1$ there are at least $ce^{C\frac{\alpha }{\sigma }}$ non-homotopic holomorphic mappings from $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ to the twice punctured complex plane.

Example 2

There are only finitely many holomorphic maps from a thrice punctured Riemann sphere to another thrice punctured Riemann sphere. Indeed, after normalizing both, the source and the target space, by a Möbius transformation we may assume that both are equal to ${\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. Each holomorphic map from ${\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ to itself extends to a meromorphic map from the Riemann sphere to itself, which maps the set $\{-1,1,\infty \}$ to itself and maps no other point to this set. By the Riemann–Hurwitz formula the meromorphic map takes each value exactly once. Indeed, suppose it takes each value l times for a natural number l. Then each point in $\{-1,1,\infty \}$ has ramification index l. Apply the Riemann Hurwitz formula for the branched covering $X={\mathbb {P}}^1\rightarrow Y={\mathbb {P}}^1$ of multiplicity l

$$\begin{aligned} \chi (X)= l \cdot \chi (Y) -\sum _{x\in Y} (e_x-1). \end{aligned}$$

Here $e_x$ is the ramification index at the point x. For the Euler characteristic we have $\chi ({\mathbb {P}}^1)=2$, and $\sum _{x\in Y} (e_x-1)\ge \sum _{x=-1,1,\infty } (e_x-1)=3\,(l-1)$. We obtain $2\le 2\,l-3\,(l-1)$ which is possible only if $l=1$. We saw that each non-constant holomorphic mapping from ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ to itself extends to a conformal mapping from the Riemann sphere to the Riemann sphere that maps the set $\{-1,1,\infty \}$ to itself. There are only finitely may such maps, each a Möbius transformation permuting the three points.

For Riemann surfaces of second kind the situation changes, as demonstrated in the following proposition. The proposition does not only concern the case when the Riemann surface equals ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes. We consider an open Riemann surface X of genus g with $m\ge 1$ holes.

Proposition 2

Let X be a connected finite open hyperbolic Riemann surface, that is equipped with a Kähler metric. Suppose S is a standard bouquet of piecewise smooth circles in X with base point $q_0$. We assume that $q_0$ is the only non-smooth point of the circles, and all tangent rays to circles in S at $q_0$ divide a disc in the tangent space into equal sectors. Let $S_{\sigma }$ be the $\sigma$-neighbourhood of S (in the Kähler metric on X).

Then there exists a constant $\sigma _0>0$, and positive constants $C'$, $C''$, $c'$, $c''$, depending only on X, S and the Kähler metric, such that for each positive $\sigma <\sigma _0$ the number $N_{S_{\sigma }}^{{\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}}$ of non-homotopic irreducible holomorphic mappings from $S_{\sigma }$ to the twice punctured complex plane satisfies the inequalities

$$\begin{aligned} c'e^{\frac{c''}{\sigma }} \le N_{S_{\sigma }}^{{\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}}\le C'e^{\frac{C''}{\sigma }}. \end{aligned}$$

(1)

The present results may be understood as quantitative statements with regard to limitations for Gromov’s Oka principle. Gromov [12] formulated his Oka principle as “an expression of an optimistic expectation with regard to the validity of the h-principle for holomorphic maps in the situation when the source manifold is Stein”. Holomorphic maps $X\rightarrow Y$ from a complex manifold X to a complex manifold Y are said to satisfy the h-principle if each continuous map from X to Y is homotopic to a holomorphic map. We call a target manifold Y a Gromov–Oka manifold if the h-principle holds for holomorphic maps from any Stein manifold to Y. Gromov [12] gave a sufficient condition on a complex manifold Y to be a Gromov–Oka manifold.

The question of understanding Gromov–Oka manifolds received a lot of attention. It turned out to be fruitful to strengthen the requirement on the target Y by combining the h-principle for holomorphic maps with a holomorphic approximation property. Manifolds Y satisfying the stronger requirement are called Oka manifolds. For details and an account on modern development of Oka theory based on Oka manifolds see [10].

The twice punctured complex plane ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ is not a Gromov–Oka manifold. Then the question becomes, what prevents a continuous map from a Stein manifold X to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ to be homotopic to a holomorphic map, and “how many” homotopy classes contain a holomorphic map? As for the first question in case the source manifold is a finite open Riemann surface X, Proposition 4 below says that an irreducible map $X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ can only be homotopic to a holomorphic map, if the “complexity” of the monodromies of the map are compatible with conformal invariants of the source manifold. Theorem 1 gives an upper bound related to the second question. Propositions 1 and 2 can be interpreted as statements related to the following question. Consider a family of Riemann surfaces $Y_{\sigma },\,\sigma \in (0,\sigma _0)$, obtained by continuously changing the conformal structure of a fixed Riemann surface. Determine the growth rate for $\sigma \rightarrow 0$ of the number of irreducible holomorphic mappings $X_\sigma \rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ up to homotopy. In Proposition 1 the family of Riemann surfaces depends also on a second parameter $\alpha$, and the growth rate is determined in $\alpha$ and $\sigma$.

The proof of both propositions uses solutions of a ${\overline{\partial }}$-problem. The solution in the case of Proposition 1 uses a simple explicit formula.

The author is grateful to B.Farb who suggested to use the concept of conformal module and extremal length for a proof of finiteness theorems, and to Berndtsson for proposing the kernel for solving the ${\bar{\partial }}$-problem that arises in the proof of Proposition 1. The work on the paper was started while the author was visiting the Max-Planck-Institute and was finished during a stay at IHES. The author would like to thank these institutions for the support. The author is also indebted to Fanny Dufour for drawing the figures and to an anonymous referee whose critics helped to improve the overall quality of the paper.

2 Preliminaries on mappings, coverings, and extremal length

In this section, we will prepare the proofs of the Theorems.

The change of the base point. Let ${\mathcal {X}}$ be a connected smooth open surface, and let $\alpha$ be an arc in ${\mathcal {X}}$ with initial point $x_0$ and terminating point x. Change the base point $x_0 \in {\mathcal {X}}$ along a curve $\alpha$ to the point $x \in {\mathcal {X}}$. This leads to an isomorphism $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }: \pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x_0) \rightarrow \pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x)$ of fundamental groups induced by the correspondence $\gamma \rightarrow \alpha ^{-1} \gamma \alpha$ for any loop $\gamma$ with base point $x_0$ and the arc $\alpha$ with initial point $x_0$ and terminating point x. We will denote the correspondence $\gamma \rightarrow \alpha ^{-1} \gamma \alpha$ between curves also by $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }$.

We call two homomorphisms $h_j:G_1 \rightarrow G_2, \, j=1,2,\,$ from a group $G_1$ to a group $G_2$ conjugate if there is an element $g' \in G_2$ such that for each $g \in G_1$ the equality $h_2(g)= {g'}^{-1} h_1(g) g'$ holds. For two arcs $\alpha _1$ and $\alpha _2$ with initial point $x_0$ and terminating point x we have $\alpha _2^{-1} \gamma \alpha _2= (\alpha _1^{-1}\alpha _2)^{-1} \alpha _1^{-1} \gamma \alpha _1 (\alpha _1^{-1}\alpha _2)$. Hence, the two isomorphisms $\text{ Is}_{\alpha _1}$ and $\text{ Is}_{\alpha _2}$ differ by conjugation with the element of $\pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x)$ represented by $\alpha _1^{-1}\alpha _2$.

Free homotopic curves are related by homotopy with fixed base point and an application of a homomorphism $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }$ that is defined up to conjugation. Hence, free homotopy classes of curves can be identified with conjugacy classes of elements of the fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x_0)$ of ${\mathcal {X}}$.

For two smooth manifolds ${\mathcal {X}}$ and ${\mathcal {Y}}$ with base points $x_0 \in {\mathcal {X}}$ and $y_0 \in {\mathcal {Y}}$ and a continuous mapping $F:{\mathcal {X}} \rightarrow {\mathcal {Y}}$ with $F(x_0)=y_0$ we denote by $F_*: \pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x_0) \rightarrow \pi _1({\mathcal {Y}},y_0)$ the induced map on fundamental groups. For each element $e_0\in \pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x_0)$ the image $F_*(e_0)$ is called the monodromy along $e_0$, and the homomorphism $F_*$ is called the monodromy homomorphism corresponding to F. The homomorphism $F_*$ determines the homotopy class of F with fixed base point in the source and fixed value at the base point. Consider a free homotopy $F_t, \, t \in (0,1)$, of homeomorphisms from ${\mathcal {X}}$ to ${\mathcal {Y}}$ such that the value $F_t(x_0)$ at the base point $x_0$ of the source space varies along a loop. Then the homomorphisms $(F_0)_*$ and $(F_1)_*$ are related by conjugation with the element of the fundamental group of ${\mathcal {Y}}$ represented by the loop.

Using deformation retractions we see that each homomorphism $h: \pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x_0) \rightarrow \pi _1({\mathcal {Y}},y_0)$ equals $F_*$ for a continuous mapping $F:X\rightarrow Y$. Moreover, if two homomorphisms $h_j: \pi _1({\mathcal {X}},x_0) \rightarrow \pi _1({\mathcal {Y}},y_0),\, j=0,1,$ are related by conjugation, $h_1=e^{-1}h_2 e$ for an element $e\in \pi _1({\mathcal {Y}},y_0)$, then there is a free homotopy $F_t$ of mappings $X\rightarrow Y$ such that $F_t(x_0)$ changes along a loop representing e and $(F_0)_*=h_0$, $(F_1)_*=h_1$. Further, since the fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathcal {Y}},y)$ with base point y is related to the fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathcal {Y}},y_0)$ with base point $y_0$ by an isomorphism determined up to conjugation we obtain the following theorem (see [13, 28]).

Theorem E

The free homotopy classes of continuous mappings from ${\mathcal {X}}$ to ${\mathcal {Y}}$ are in one-to-one correspondence to the set of conjugacy classes of homomorphisms between the fundamental groups of ${\mathcal {X}}$ and ${\mathcal {Y}}$.

Extremal length. The fundamental group $\pi _1 {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \pi _1(\mathbb {C}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$ is canonically isomorphic to the fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ for an arbitrary point $q' \in (-1,1)$. For the arc $\alpha$ defining the isomorphism we take the unique arc contained in $(-1,1)$ that joins 0 and $q'$. The fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$ is a free group in two generators. We choose standard generators $a_1$ and $a_2$, where $a_1$ is represented by a simple closed curve with base point 0 which surrounds $-1$ counterclockwise, and $a_2$ is represented by a simple closed curve with base point 0 which surrounds 1 counterclockwise. For $q' \in (-1,1)$ we also denote by $a_j$ the generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ which is obtained from the respective standard generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}, 0)$ by the standard isomorphism between fundamental groups with base point on $(-1,1)$. More detailed, $a_1$ is the generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ which is represented by a loop with base point $q'$ that surrounds $-1$ counterclockwise, and $a_2$ is the generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ which is represented by a loop with base point $q'$ that surrounds 1 counterclockwise. We refer to $a_1$ and $a_2$ as to the standard generators of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$.

Further, the group $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$ is canonically isomorphic to the relative fundamental group $\pi _1^{tr}({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}) {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},(-1,1))$ whose elements are homotopy classes of (not necessarily closed) curves in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ with end points on the interval $(-1,1)$. We refer to $\pi _1^{tr}({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\})$ as fundamental group with totally real horizontal boundary values (tr-boundary values for short). For an element $w \in \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}, q')$ with base point $q' \in (-1,1)$ we denote by $w_{tr}$ the element of the relative fundamental group $\pi _1^{tr}({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\})$ with totally real boundary values, corresponding to w. For more details see [17].

Each element of a free group can be written uniquely as a reduced word in the generators. (A word is reduced if neighbouring terms are powers of different generators.) The degree (or word length) d(w) of a reduced word w in the generators of a free group is the sum of the absolute values of the powers of generators in the reduced word. If the word is the identity its degree is defined to be zero. We will identify elements of a free group with reduced words in generators of the group.

For a rectangle R let $f:R \rightarrow {\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ be a mapping which admits a continuous extension to the closure ${\bar{R}}$ (denoted again by f) which maps the (open) horizontal sides to $(-1,1)$. We say that the mapping f represents an element $w_{tr} \in \pi _1^{tr}({\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\})$ if for each maximal vertical line segment contained in R (i.e. R intersected with a vertical line in ${\mathbb {C}}$) the restriction of f to the closure of the line segment represents $w_{tr}$.

The extremal length $\;\;\varLambda (w_{tr})\;\;$ of an element $\;\;w_{tr}\;\;$ in the relative fundamental group $\;\pi _1^{tr}({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\})\;$ is defined as

$$\begin{aligned} \varLambda (w_{tr}){\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}&\inf \{\lambda (R): R\, \text{ a } \text{ rectangle } \text{ which } \text{ admits } \text{ a } \text{ holomorphic } \text{ map } \text{ to } \;{\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\} \nonumber \\&\, \text{ that } \text{ represents }\; w_{tr}\}. \end{aligned}$$

(2)

For an element $w\in \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ and the associated element $w_{tr}$ we will also write $\varLambda _{tr}(w)$ instead of $\varLambda (w_{tr})$.

Any reduced word $\;w\;$ in $\;\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')\;$ can be uniquely decomposed into syllables. They are defined as follows. Each term $a_{j_i}^{k_i}$ with $|k_i|\ge 2$ is a syllable, and any maximal sequence of consecutive terms $a_{j_i}^{k_i}$, for which $|k_i|=1$ and all $k_i$ have the same sign, is a syllable (see [17, 18]). Let $d_k$ be the degree of the k-th syllable from the left. (We consider each syllable as a reduced word in the elements of the fundamental group.) Put

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(w){\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \sum \log (3 d_k), \quad {\mathcal {L}}_+(w){\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \sum \log (4 d_k), \end{aligned}$$

(3)

where the sum runs over the degrees of all syllables of $w_{tr}$. Notice that ${\mathcal {L}}_{\pm }(w^{-1})={\mathcal {L}}_{\pm }(w)$. We define ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\mathrm{Id})={\mathcal {L}}_+(\mathrm{Id})=0$ for the identity $\mathrm{Id}$. We need the following theorem which is proved in [17] (see Theorem 1 there).

Theorem F

If $w \in \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$ is not equal to a (trivial or non-trivial) power of $a_1$ or of $a_2$ then

$$\begin{aligned} \frac{1}{ 2 \pi } {\mathcal {L}}_-(w)\le \varLambda (w_{tr}) \le 300 {\mathcal {L}}_+(w). \end{aligned}$$

(4)

Regular zero sets. We will call a subset of a smooth manifold ${\mathcal {X}}$ a simple relatively closed curve if it is the connected component of a regular level set of a smooth real-valued function on ${\mathcal {X}}$.

Let ${\mathcal {X}}$ be a connected finite open Riemann surface. Suppose the zero set L of a non-constant smooth real valued function on ${\mathcal {X}}$ is regular. Each component of L is either a simple closed curve or it can be parameterized by a continuous mapping $\ell :(-\infty ,\infty )\rightarrow {\mathcal {X}}$. We call a component of the latter kind a simple relatively closed arc in ${\mathcal {X}}$.

A relatively closed curve $\gamma$ in a connected finite open Riemann surface ${\mathcal {X}}$ is said to be contractible to a hole of ${\mathcal {X}}$, if the following holds. Consider ${\mathcal {X}}$ as domain ${\mathcal {X}}^c{\setminus } \cup {\mathcal {C}}_j$ on a closed Riemann surface ${\mathcal {X}}^c$. Here the ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ are the holes, each is either a closed topological disc with smooth boundary or a point. The condition is the following. For each pair $U_1$, $U_2$ of open subsets of ${\mathcal {X}}^c$, $\cup {\mathcal {C}}_j\subset U_1\Subset U_2$, there exists a homotopy of $\gamma$ that fixes $\gamma \cap U_1$ and moves $\gamma$ into $U_2$. Taking for $U_2$ small enough neighbourhoods of $\cup {\mathcal {C}}_j$ we see that the homotopy moves $\gamma$ into an annulus adjacent to one of the holes.

For each relatively compact domain ${\mathcal {X}}'\Subset {\mathcal {X}}$ in ${\mathcal {X}}$ there is a finite cover of $L\cap \overline{{\mathcal {X}}'}$ by open subsets $U_k$ of ${\mathcal {X}}$ such that each $L\cap U_k$ is connected. Each set $L\cap U_k$ is contained in a component of L. Hence, only finitely many connected components of L intersect ${\mathcal {X}}'$. Let $L_0$ be a connected component of L which is a simple relatively closed arc parameterized by $\ell _0:{\mathbb {R}}\rightarrow {\mathcal {X}}$. Since each set $L_0\cap U_k$ is connected it is the image of an interval under $\ell _0$. Take real numbers $t_0^-$ and $t_0^+$ such that all these intervals are contained in $(t_0^-,t_0^+)$. Then the images $\ell \big ((-\infty ,t_0^-)\big )$ and $\ell \big ((t_0^+ ,+\infty )\big )$ are contained in ${\mathcal {X}}{\setminus } {\mathcal {X}}'$, maybe, in different components. Such parameters $t_0^-$ and $t_0^+$ can be found for each relatively compact deformation retract ${\mathcal {X}}'$ of ${\mathcal {X}}$. Hence for each relatively closed arc $L_0\subset L$ the set of limit points $L_0^+$ of $\ell _0(t)$ for $t\rightarrow \infty$ is contained in a boundary component of ${\mathcal {X}}$. Also, the set of limit points $L_0^-$ of $\ell _0(t)$ for $t\rightarrow -\infty$ is contained in a boundary component of ${\mathcal {X}}$. The boundary components may be equal or different.

Moreover, if ${\mathcal {X}}'\Subset {\mathcal {X}}$ is a relatively compact domain in ${\mathcal {X}}$ which is a deformation retract of ${\mathcal {X}}$, and a connected component $L_0$ of L does not intersect $\overline{{\mathcal {X}}'}$ then $L_0$ is contractible to a hole of ${\mathcal {X}}$. Indeed, ${\mathcal {X}}{\setminus } \overline{{\mathcal {X}}'}$ is the union of disjoint annuli, each of which is adjacent to a boundary component of ${\mathcal {X}}$, and the connected set $L_0$ must be contained in a single annulus.

Further, denote by $L'$ the union of all connected components of L that are simple relatively closed arcs. Consider those components $L_j$ of $L'$ that intersect ${\mathcal {X}}'$. There are finitely many such $L_j$. Parameterize each $L_j$ by a mapping $\ell _j:{\mathbb {R}}\rightarrow {\mathcal {X}}$. For each j we let $[t_j^-,t_j^+]$ be a compact interval for which

$$\begin{aligned} \ell _j({\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } [t_j^-,t_j^+]) \subset {\mathcal {X}}{\setminus } \overline{{\mathcal {X}}'}. \end{aligned}$$

(5)

Let ${\mathcal {X}}''$, ${\mathcal {X}}'\Subset {\mathcal {X}}''\Subset {\mathcal {X}}$, be a domain which is a deformation retract of ${\mathcal {X}}$ such that $\ell _j([t_j^-,t_j^+])\subset {\mathcal {X}}''$ for each j. Then all connected components of $L'\cap {\mathcal {X}}''$, that do not contain a set $\ell _j([t_j^-,t_j^+])$, are contractible to a hole of ${\mathcal {X}}''$. Indeed, each such component is contained in the union of annuli ${\mathcal {X}}''{\setminus } \overline{{\mathcal {X}}'}$.

Some remarks on coverings. By a covering $P:{\mathcal {Y}} \rightarrow {\mathcal {X}}$ we mean a continuous map P from a topological space ${\mathcal {Y}}$ to a topological space ${\mathcal {X}}$ such that for each point $x \in {\mathcal {X}}$ there is a neighbourhood V(x) of x such that the mapping P maps each connected component of the preimage of V(x) homeomorphically onto V(x). (Note that in function theory sometimes these objects are called unlimited unramified coverings to reserve the notion “covering” for more general objects.)

Let X be a connected finite open Riemann surface with base point $q_0$ and let ${\textsf {P}}: {{\tilde{X}}} \rightarrow X$ be the universal covering map. Recall that a homeomorphism $\varphi :{\tilde{X}} \rightarrow {\tilde{X}}$ for which ${\textsf {P}}\circ \varphi = {\textsf {P}}$ is called a covering transformation (or deck transformation). The covering transformations form a group, denoted by $\mathrm{Deck}({\tilde{X}},X)$. For each pair of points ${\tilde{x}}_1, {\tilde{x}}_2 \in {\tilde{X}}$ with ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{x}}_1)={\textsf {P}}({\tilde{x}}_2)$ there exists exactly one covering transformation that maps ${\tilde{x}}_1$ to ${\tilde{x}}_2$. (See e.g. [9]).

Throughout the paper we will fix a base point $q_0\in X$ and a base point ${\tilde{q}}_0\in {\textsf {P}}^{-1}(q_0)\subset {\tilde{X}}$. The group of covering transformations of ${{\tilde{X}}}$ can be identified with the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ of X by the following correspondence. (See e.g. [9]).

Take a covering transformation $\sigma \in \mathrm{Deck}({\tilde{X}},X)$. Let ${\tilde{\gamma }}_0$ be an arc in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with initial point $\sigma ({\tilde{q}}_0)$ and terminating point ${\tilde{q}}_0$. Denote by $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}(\sigma )$ the element of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ represented by the loop ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }}_0)$. The mapping $\mathrm{Deck}({\tilde{X}},X)\ni \sigma \rightarrow \mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}(\sigma )\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ is a group homomorphism. The homomorphism $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}$ is injective and surjective, hence it is a group isomorphism. The inverse $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}$ is obtained as follows. Represent an element $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ by a loop $\gamma _0$. Consider the lift ${\tilde{\gamma }}_0$ of $\gamma _0$ to ${{\tilde{X}}}$ that has terminating point ${\tilde{q}}_0$. Then $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(e_0)$ is the covering transformation that maps $q_0$ to the initial point of of ${\tilde{\gamma }}_0$.

For another point ${\tilde{q}}$ of ${{\tilde{X}}}$ and the point $q{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}{\textsf {P}}({\tilde{q}})\in X$ the isomorphism $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}}:\mathrm{Deck}({\tilde{X}},X)\rightarrow \pi _1(X,q)$ assigns to each $\sigma \in \mathrm{Deck}({\tilde{X}},X)$ the element of $\pi _1(X,q)$ that is represented by ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }})$ for a curve ${\tilde{\gamma }}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ that joins $\sigma ({\tilde{q}})$ with ${{\tilde{q}}}$. $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}}$ is related to $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}$ as follows. Let ${\tilde{\alpha }}$ be an arc in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with initial point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and terminating point ${\tilde{q}}$. Put $q={\textsf {P}}({\tilde{q}})$ and $\alpha ={\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\alpha }})$. Then for the isomorphism $\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }:\pi _1(X,q_0)\rightarrow \pi _1(X,q)$ the equation

$$\begin{aligned} \mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}}(\sigma )= \mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }\circ \mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}(\sigma ),\;\; \sigma \in \mathrm{Deck}({\tilde{X}},X), \end{aligned}$$

(6)

holds, i.e. the diagram Fig. 2 is commutative.

Fig. 2

A commutative diagram related to the change of the base point

Indeed, let ${\tilde{\alpha }}^{-1}$ denote the curve that is obtained from ${\tilde{\alpha }}$ by inverting the direction on ${\tilde{\alpha }}$, i.e. moving from ${\tilde{q}}$ to ${\tilde{q}}_0$. The curve $\sigma (({\tilde{\alpha }})^{-1})$ has initial point $\sigma ({\tilde{q}})$ and terminating point $\sigma ({\tilde{q}}_0)$. Hence, for a curve ${\tilde{\gamma }}_0$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ that joins $\sigma ({\tilde{q}}_0)$ with ${\tilde{q}}_0$, the curve $\sigma (({\tilde{\alpha }})^{-1}) \; {\tilde{\gamma }}_0\;{\tilde{\alpha }}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ has initial point $\sigma ({\tilde{q}})$ and terminating point ${\tilde{q}}$. Therefore ${\textsf {P}}(\sigma (({\tilde{\alpha }})^{-1}) \; {\tilde{\gamma }}_0 \;{\tilde{\alpha }})$ represents $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}}(\sigma )$. On the other hand

$$\begin{aligned} {\textsf {P}}(\sigma ({\tilde{\alpha }}^{-1}) \; {\tilde{\gamma }}_0\;{\tilde{\alpha }})= {\textsf {P}}(\sigma ({\tilde{\alpha }}^{-1}))\;{\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }}_0)\; {\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\alpha }})= \alpha ^{-1} \gamma _0 \,\alpha \end{aligned}$$

(7)

represents $\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(e_0)$ with $e_0=\mathrm{Is}^{{{\tilde{q}}}_0}(\sigma )$. In particular, if ${\tilde{q}}'_0\in {\textsf {P}}^{-1}(q_0)$ is another preimage of the base point $q_0$ under the projection $\textsf {P}$, then the associated isomorphisms from $\mathrm{Deck}(\tilde{X},X)$ to the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ are conjugate, i.e. $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}'_0}(e_0)=(e'_0)^{-1} \mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}(e_0) e'_0$ for each $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$. The element $e'_0$ is represented by the projection of an arc in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with initial point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and terminating point ${\tilde{q}}'_0$.

Keeping fixed ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and $q_0$ we will say that a point ${\tilde{q}}\in {{\tilde{X}}}$ and a curve $\alpha$ in X are compatible if the diagram Fig. 2 is commutative, equivalently, if Eq. (6) holds. We may also start with choosing a curve $\alpha$ in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q. Then there is a point ${\tilde{q}}={\tilde{q}}(\alpha )$, such that ${\tilde{q}}$ and $\alpha$ are compatible. Indeed, let ${\tilde{\alpha }}$ be the lift of $\alpha$, that has initial point ${\tilde{q}}_0$. Denote the terminating point of ${\tilde{\alpha }}$ by ${\tilde{q}}(\alpha )$, and repeat the previous arguments.

Let N be a subgroup of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$. Denote by X(N) the quotient ${{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N)$. We obtain a covering $\omega ^N_{\mathrm{Id}} :{{\tilde{X}}} \rightarrow X(N)$ with group of covering transformations isomorphic to N. The fundamental group of X(N) with base point $(q_0)_N{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega _{\mathrm{Id}}^N({\tilde{q}}_0)$ can be identified with N.

If $N_1$ and $N_2$ are subgroups of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ and $N_1$ is a subgroup of $N_2$ (we write $N_1 \le N_2$), then there is a covering map $\omega ^{N_2}_{N_1} :{{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N_1) \rightarrow {{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N_2)$, such that $\omega ^{N_2}_{N_1} \circ \omega ^{N_1}_{\mathrm{Id}}=\omega ^{N_2}_{\mathrm{Id}}$. Moreover, the diagram Fig. 3 is commutative.

Fig. 3

A commutative diagram related to subgroups of the group of covering transformations

Indeed, take any point $x_1 \in {{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N_1)$ and a preimage ${{\tilde{x}}}$ of $x_1$ under $\omega ^{N_1}_ \mathrm{Id}$. There exists a neighbourhood $V({{\tilde{x}}})$ of ${{\tilde{x}}}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ such that $V({{\tilde{x}}})\cap \sigma (V({{\tilde{x}}}))=\emptyset$ for all covering transformations $\sigma \in \mathrm{Deck}({\tilde{X}}, X)$. Then for $j=1,2$ the mapping $\omega ^{N_j,{{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega ^{N_j}_{\mathrm{Id}} \mid V({{\tilde{x}}})$ is a homeomorphism from $V({{\tilde{x}}})$ onto its image denoted by $V_j$. Put $x_2=\omega ^{N_2,{{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}}({\tilde{x}})$. The set $V_j\subset {\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N_j)$ is a neighbourhood of $x_j$ for $j=1,2$.

For each preimage ${\tilde{x}}' \in (\omega ^{N_1}_{\mathrm{Id}})^{-1}(x_1)$ there is a covering transformation $\varphi _{{{\tilde{x}}},{\tilde{x}}'}$ in $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N_1)$ which maps a neighbourhood $V({\tilde{x}}')$ of ${\tilde{x}}'$ conformally onto the neighbourhood $V({\tilde{x}})$ of ${\tilde{x}}$ so that on $V({\tilde{x}}')$ the equality $\omega ^{N_1,{\tilde{x}}'} _{\mathrm{Id}} = \omega ^{N_1,{{\tilde{x}}}}_{\mathrm{Id}} \circ \varphi _{{{\tilde{x}}},{\tilde{x}}'}$ holds. Choose ${\tilde{x}} \in (\omega ^{N_1} _{\mathrm{Id}})^{-1}(x_1)$ and define

$$\begin{aligned} \omega ^{N_2}_{N_1}(y) = \omega ^{N_2, {{\tilde{x}}}}_{N_1}(y) {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega ^{N_2, {{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} ((\omega ^{N_1,{{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} )^{-1}(y)) \,{ \text{ for } \text{ each }} y \in V_1. \end{aligned}$$

(8)

We get a correctly defined mapping from $V_1$ onto $V_2$. Indeed, since $N_1$ is a subgroup of $N_2$, the covering transformation $\varphi _{{{\tilde{x}}},{\tilde{x}}'}$ is contained in $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N_2)$, and we get for another point ${\tilde{x}}' \in (\omega ^{N_1}_ \mathrm{Id})^{-1}(x_1)$ the equality $\omega ^{N_2, {\tilde{x}}'} _{\mathrm{Id}} = \omega ^{N_2, {{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} \circ \varphi _{{{\tilde{x}}},{\tilde{x}}'}$. Hence, for $y \in V_1(x_1)$

$$\begin{aligned} \omega ^{N_2, {\tilde{x}}'} _{\mathrm{Id}} \circ (\omega ^{N_1,{\tilde{x}}'} _{\mathrm{Id}})^{-1} (y) = (\omega ^{N_2, {{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} \circ \varphi _{{{\tilde{x}}},{\tilde{x}}'})\circ (\omega ^{N_1,{{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} \circ \varphi _{{{\tilde{x}}},{\tilde{x}}'})^{-1}(y)= \omega ^{N_2,{{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} \circ (\omega ^{N_1,{{\tilde{x}}}} _{\mathrm{Id}} )^{-1}(y).\nonumber \\ \end{aligned}$$

(9)

Since each mapping $\omega ^{N_j,{\tilde{x}}}_ \mathrm{Id}$, $j=1,2,$ is a homeomorphism from $V({\tilde{x}})$ onto its image, the mapping $\omega ^{N_2} _{N_1}$ is a homeomorphism from $V(x_1)$ onto $V(x_2)$. The same holds for all preimages of $V(x_2)$ under $\omega ^{N_2} _{N_1}$. Hence, $\omega ^{N_2} _{N_1}$ is a covering map. The commutativity of the part of the diagram that involves the mappings $\omega ^{N_1} _{\mathrm{Id}}$, $\omega ^{N_2} _{\mathrm{Id}}$, and $\omega _{N_1}^{N_2}$ follows from Eq. (8).

The existence of $\omega _{N_1}^{\pi _1(X,q_0)}$ and the equality ${\textsf {P}}= \omega _{N_1}^{\pi _1(X,q_0)} \circ \omega ^{N_1} _{\mathrm{Id}}$ follows by applying the above arguments with $N_2= \pi _1(X,q_0)$. The equality ${\textsf {P}}= \omega _{N_2}^{\pi _1(X,q_0)} \circ \omega ^{N_2} _{\mathrm{Id}}$ follows in the same way. Since

$$\begin{aligned} {\textsf {P}}&= \omega _{N_2}^{\pi _1(X,q_0)} \circ \omega _{N_1}^{N_2}\circ \omega ^{N_1} _{\mathrm{Id}} \\&= \omega _{N_1}^{\pi _1(X,q_0)}\quad \quad \;\;\, \circ \omega ^{N_1} _{\mathrm{Id}}, \end{aligned}$$

we have

$$\begin{aligned} \omega _{N_2}^{\pi _1(X,q_0)} \circ \omega _{N_1}^{N_2} = \omega _{N_1}^{\pi _1(X,q_0)} \end{aligned}$$

We will also use the notation $\omega ^N {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega ^N _{\mathrm{Id}}$ and $\omega _N {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega _N ^{\pi _1(X,q_0)}$ for a subgroup N of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$.

Let again $N_1 \le N_2$ be subgroups of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$. Consider the covering $\omega _{N_1}^{N_2} :{{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{{\tilde{q}}}}_0})^{-1}(N_1) \rightarrow {{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{{\tilde{q}}}}_0})^{-1}(N_2)$. Let $\beta$ be a simple relatively closed curve in ${{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{\tilde{q}}}_0})^{-1}(N_2)$. Then $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})^{-1}(\beta )$ is the union of simple relatively closed curves in ${{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{{\tilde{q}}}}_0})^{-1}( N_1)$ and $\omega _{N_1}^{N_2}: (\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})^{-1}(\beta ) \rightarrow \beta$ is a covering. Indeed, we cover $\beta$ by small discs $U_k$ in ${{\tilde{X}}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{{\tilde{q}}}}_0})^{-1}( N_2)$ such that for each k the restriction of $\omega _{N_1}^{N_2}$ to each connected component of $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})^{-1}(U_k)$ is a homeomorphism onto $U_k$, and $U_k$ intersects $\beta$ along a connected set. Take any k with $U_k \cap \beta \ne \emptyset$. Consider the preimages $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})^{-1}(U_k)$. Restrict $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})$ to the intersection of each preimage $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})^{-1}(U_k)$ with $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})^{-1}(\beta )$. We obtain a homeomorphism onto $U_k \cap \beta$. It follows that the map $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})$ is a covering from each connected component of $(\omega _{N_1}^{N_2})^{-1}(\beta )$ onto $\beta$.

The extremal length of monodromies. Let as before X be a connected finite open Riemann surface with base point $q_0$, and ${\tilde{q}}_0$ a point in the universal covering ${{\tilde{X}}}$ for which ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{q}}_0)=q_0$ for the covering map ${\textsf {P}}:{\tilde{X}}\rightarrow X$.

Recall that for an arbitrary point $q\in X$ the free homotopy class of an element e of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q)$ can be identified with the conjugacy class of elements of $\pi _1(X,q)$ containing e and is denoted by ${\widehat{e}}$. Notice that for $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ and a curve $\alpha$ in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q the free homotopy classes of $e_0$ and of $e=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(e_0)$ coincide, i.e. ${\widehat{e}}={\widehat{e}}_0$. Consider a simple smooth relatively closed curve L in X. We will say that a free homotopy class of curves $\widehat{e_0}$ intersects L if each representative of $\widehat{e_0}$ intersects L. Choose an orientation of L. The intersection number of $\widehat{e_0}$ with the oriented curve L is the intersection number with L of some (and, hence, of each) smooth loop representing $\widehat{e_0}$ that intersects L transversally. This intersection number is the sum of the intersection numbers over all intersection points. The intersection number at an intersection point equals $+ 1$ if the orientation determined by the tangent vector to the curve representing $\widehat{e_0}$ followed by the tangent vector to L is the orientation of X, and equals $-1$ otherwise.

Let A be an annulus equipped with an orientation (called positive orientation) of simple closed dividing curves in A. (A relatively closed curve in a surface X is called dividing, if $X{\setminus } \gamma$ consists of two connected components.) A continuous mapping $\omega :A\rightarrow X$ is said to represent a conjugacy class ${\widehat{e}}$ of elements of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q)$ for a point $q\in X$, if the composition $\omega \circ \gamma$ represents ${\widehat{e}}$ for each positively oriented dividing curve $\gamma$ in A .

Let A be an annulus with base point p with a chosen positive orientation of simple closed dividing curves in A. Let $\omega$ be a continuous mapping from A to a finite Riemann surface X with base point q such that $\omega (p)=q$. We write $\omega :(A,p) \rightarrow ({X},q)$. The mapping is said to represent the element e of the fundamental group $\pi _1({X},q)$ if $\omega \circ \gamma$ represents e for some (and hence for each) positively oriented simple closed dividing curve $\gamma$ in A with base point q.

We associate to each element $e_0 \in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ of the free group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ the annulus $X(\langle e_0 \rangle )={\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle )$ with base point $q_{\langle e_0\rangle }= \omega _{\mathrm{Id}}^{\langle e_0 \rangle }({\tilde{q}}_0)$ and the covering map $\omega _{\langle e_0 \rangle } {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega ^{\pi _1(X,q_0)}_{\langle e_0 \rangle }:X(\langle e_0 \rangle ) \rightarrow X$. By the commutative diagram 3 the equality $\omega _{\langle e_0 \rangle }(q_{\langle e_0 \rangle })= q_0$ holds. We choose the orientation of simple closed dividing curves in $X(\langle e_0 \rangle )={\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle )$ so that for a curve ${{\tilde{\gamma }}}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and initial point $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}(e_0)$ the curve $\gamma _{\langle e_0 \rangle }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega ^{\langle e_0 \rangle }(\tilde{ \gamma })$ is positively oriented. The locally conformal mapping $\omega ^{\pi _1(X,q_0)}_{\langle e_0 \rangle }:(X(\langle e_0 \rangle ), q_{\langle e_0\rangle })\rightarrow (X,q_0)$ represents $e_0$. This follows from the equality $\omega _{\langle e_0 \rangle }(\gamma _{\langle e_0 \rangle })=\omega _{\langle e_0 \rangle }(\omega ^{\langle e_0 \rangle }({\tilde{\gamma }}))={\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }})=\gamma$, since ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }})$ represents $e_0$.

Take a curve $\alpha$ in X that joins $q_0$ and q, and a point ${\tilde{q}}={\tilde{q}}({\alpha })\in {{\tilde{X}}}$ such that $\alpha$ and ${\tilde{q}}$ are compatible, i.e. $\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}}=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }\circ \mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}$ (see Eq. (6)). Put $e=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(e_0)$. By Eq. (6) $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(e)=(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(e_0)$, hence, ${\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e\rangle )={\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0\rangle )=X(\langle e_0\rangle )$. The locally conformal mapping $\omega _{\langle e_0\rangle }: X(\langle e_0\rangle )\rightarrow X$ takes the point $q_{\langle e\rangle }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega ^{\langle e_0 \rangle }({\tilde{q}})$ to $q\in X$. Moreover, $\omega _{\langle e_0\rangle }: (X(\langle e_0\rangle ),q_{\langle e\rangle }) \rightarrow (X,q)$ represents $e\in \pi _1(X,q)$. This can be seen by repeating the previous arguments.

Let $\alpha$ be an arbitrary curve in X joining $q_0$ with q, and ${\tilde{q}}\in {\textsf {P}}^{-1}(q)$ be arbitrary (i.e. $\alpha$ and ${\tilde{q}}$ are not required to be compatible). Let $e\in \pi _1(X,q)$. Denote the projection ${\tilde{X}}\rightarrow {\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e\rangle )$ by $\omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}$, and the projection ${\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e\rangle )\rightarrow X$ by $\omega _{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}$. Put $q_{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}=\omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{q}})$. For any such choice we choose the orientation of simple closed dividing curves on ${\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e\rangle )$ so that $\omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}$ maps any curve ${\tilde{\gamma }}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with initial point $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e\rangle )({\tilde{q}})$ and terminal point ${\tilde{q}}$ to a positively oriented dividing curve. We will call it the standard orientation of dividing curves in ${\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e\rangle )$. The mapping $\omega _{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}: \big ({\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e\rangle ),q_{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}} \big )\rightarrow (X,q)$ represents e.

Since the mapping $\;\;\omega _{\langle e_0 \rangle }:(X(\langle e_0 \rangle ),(q_0)_{\langle e_0\rangle }) \rightarrow (X,q_0)\;\;$ represents $\;e_0\;$, the mapping $\omega _{\langle e_0 \rangle }:X(\langle e_0 \rangle ) \rightarrow X$ represents the free homotopy class $\widehat{e_0}$. The following simple lemma will be useful.

Lemma 1

The annulus $X(\langle e_0 \rangle )$ has smallest extremal length among annuli which admit a holomorphic mapping to X, that represents the conjugacy class $\widehat{e_0}$.

In other words, $X(\langle e_0 \rangle )$ is the “thickest” annulus with the property stated in Lemma 1.

Proof

Take an annulus A with a choice of positive orientation of simple closed dividing curves. Suppose $A \overset{\omega }{-\!\!\!\longrightarrow }X$ is a holomorphic mapping that represents $\widehat{e_0}$. The annulus A is conformally equivalent to a round annulus in the plane, hence, we may assume that A has the form $A=\{z\in {\mathbb {C}}: \, r<|z|<R\}$ for $0\le r<R\le \infty$ and the positive orientation of dividing curves is the counterclockwise one.

Take a positively oriented simple closed dividing curve $\gamma ^{A}$ in A. Its image $\omega \circ \gamma ^{A}$ under $\omega$ represents the class $\widehat{e_0}$. Choose a point $q^{A}$ in $\gamma ^{A}$, and put $q=\omega (q^{A})$. Then $\gamma ^{A}$ represents a generator of $\pi _1(A,q^{A})$ and $\gamma =\omega \circ \gamma ^{A}$ represents an element e of $\pi _1(X,q)$ in the conjugacy class $\widehat{e_0}$. Choose a curve $\alpha$ in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q, and a point ${{\tilde{q}}}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ so that $\alpha$ and ${{\tilde{q}}}$ are compatible, and, hence, for $e=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(e_0)$ the equality $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(e_0)=(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(e)$ holds. Let L be the relatively closed arc $\{q^A\cdot r: r\in \mathbb {R}\} \cap A$ in A that contains $q^A$. After a homotopy of $\gamma ^{A}$ with fixed base point, we may assume that its base point $q^{A}$ is the only point of $\gamma ^{A}$ that is contained in L. The restriction $\omega |(A{\setminus } L)$ lifts to a mapping ${\tilde{\omega }}:(A{\setminus } L)\rightarrow {{\tilde{X}}}$, that extends continuously to the two strands $L_{\pm }$ of L. (Here $L_-$ contains the initial point of $\gamma ^{A}$.) Let $q^A_{\pm }$ be the copies of $q^A$ on the two strands $L_{\pm }$. We choose the lift ${\tilde{\omega }}$ so that $\tilde{\omega }(q^A_+)=\tilde{ q}$. Since the mapping $(A,q^{A})\rightarrow (X,q)$ represents e, we obtain $\tilde{\omega }(q^A_-)=\sigma (\tilde{ q})$ for $\sigma = (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(e)$. Then for each $z\in L$ the covering transformation $\sigma$ maps the point ${\tilde{z}}_+\in {\tilde{\omega }}(L_+)$ for which ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{z}}_+)=z$ to the point ${\tilde{z}}_-\in {\tilde{\omega }}(L_-)$ for which ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{z}}_-)=z$. Hence $\omega$ lifts to a holomorphic mapping $\iota : A\rightarrow X(\langle e_0 \rangle )$. By Lemma 7 of [17] $\lambda (A) \ge \lambda ( X(\langle e_0 \rangle ))$. $\square$

For each point $q\in X$ and each element $e\in \pi _1(X,q)$ we denote by $A({\widehat{e}})$ the conformal class of the “thickest” annulus that admits a holomorphic mapping into X that represents ${\widehat{e}}$. We saw that $\lambda (A(\widehat{e_0}))=\lambda ({\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle ))$ for $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$. By the same reasoning as before $\lambda (A({\widehat{e}}))=\lambda ({\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}'})^{-1}(\langle e \rangle ))$ for each ${\tilde{q}}' \in {{\tilde{X}}}$ and each element $e \in \pi _1(X,{\textsf {P}}({\tilde{q}}'))$. Hence, if $e_0$ and e are conjugate, then $\lambda ({\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle ))=\lambda ({\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e \rangle ))$ for any ${\tilde{q}}_0\in {\textsf {P}}^{-1}(q_0)\subset {{\tilde{X}}}$ and any ${\tilde{q}}\in {\textsf {P}}^{-1}(q)$. Notice that for each $e\in \pi _1(X,q),\, q\in X$.

3 Holomorphic mappings into the twice punctured plane

The following lemma will be crucial for the estimate of the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$-invariant of the monodromies of holomorphic mappings from a finite open Riemann surface to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$.

Lemma 2

Let $f:X \rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ be a non-contractible holomorphic function on a connected finite open Riemann surface X, such that 0 is a regular value of $\mathrm{Im}f$. Assume that $L_0$ is a simple relatively closed curve in X such that $f(L_0)\subset (-1,1)$. Let $q \in L_0$ and $q'=f(q)$.

If for an element $e\in \pi _1(X,q)$ the free homotopy class ${{\widehat{e}}}$ intersects $L_0$, then either the reduced word $f_*(e) \in \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ is a non-zero power of a standard generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}, q')$ or the inequality

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(f_*(e)) \le 2\pi \lambda (A({\,\widehat{e}\,})) \end{aligned}$$

(10)

holds.

Notice that we make a normalization in the statement of the Lemma by requiring that f maps $L_0$ into the interval $(-1,1)$, not merely into ${\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$.

Lemma 2 will be a consequence of the following lemma.

Lemma 3

Let X, f, $L_0$, $q\in L_0$ be as in Lemma 2, and $e\in \pi _1(X,q)$. Let ${{\tilde{q}}}$ be an arbitrary point in ${ {\textsf {P}}}^{-1}(q)$. Consider the annulus $A{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}{\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle e \rangle )$ and the holomorphic projection $\omega _{A}{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega _{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}$. Put $q_{A}{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{q}})$ and let $L_{A}\subset A$ be the connected component of $(\omega _{A})^{-1}(L_0)$ that contains $q_{A}$. Then the mapping $\omega _{A}:(A,q_{A})\rightarrow (X,q)$ represents e.

If ${{\widehat{e}}}$ intersects $L_0$, then $L_{A}$ is a relatively closed curve in A that has limit points on both boundary components of A, and the lift $f\circ \omega _{A}$ is a holomorphic function on A that maps $L_{A}$ into $(-1,1)$.

Proof of Lemma 3

Let $\gamma :[0,1]\rightarrow X$ be a curve with base point q in X that represents e, and let ${\tilde{\gamma }}$ be the lift of $\gamma$ to ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point ${\tilde{\gamma }}(1)$ equal to ${{\tilde{q}}}$. Put $\sigma {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(e)$. Then the initial point ${\tilde{\gamma }}(0)$ equals $\sigma ({\tilde{q}})$.

All connected components of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(L_0)$ are relatively closed curves in ${\tilde{X}}\cong {\mathbb {C}}_+$ (where ${\mathbb {C}}_+$ denotes the upper half-plane) with limit points on the boundary of ${{\tilde{X}}}$. Indeed, the lift $f\circ {\textsf {P}}$ of f to ${{\tilde{X}}}$ takes values in $(-1,1)$ on ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(L_0)$. Hence, $|\exp (\pm \,i\, f\circ {\textsf {P}})|=1$ on ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(L_0)$. A compact connected component of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(L_0)$ would bound a relatively compact topological disc in ${\tilde{X}}={\mathbb {C}}_+$, and by the maximum principle $|\exp (\pm \,i\, f\circ {\textsf {P}})|=1$ on the disc. This would imply that $f\circ {\textsf {P}}$ is constant on ${{\tilde{X}}}$ in contrary to the assumptions.

Let ${\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}}$ be the connected component of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(L_0)$ that contains ${\tilde{q}}$. The point $\sigma ({\tilde{q}})$ cannot be contained in ${\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}}$. Indeed, assume the contrary. Then the arc $\tilde{\gamma '}$ on ${\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}}$ joining $\sigma ({\tilde{q}})$ and ${\tilde{q}}$ is homotopic in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with fixed endpoints to ${\tilde{\gamma }}$. The projection $\gamma '={\textsf {P}}(\tilde{\gamma '})$ is contained in $L_0$ and is homotopic in X with fixed endpoints to $\gamma$. Since $\gamma$ represents e and e is a primitive element of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q)$, this is possible only if $L_0$ is compact (and after orienting it) $L_0$ represents e. A small translation of $\gamma '$ to a side of $L_0$ gives a curve in X that does not intersect $L_0$ and represents the free homotopy class ${{\widehat{e}}}$ of e. This contradicts the fact that ${\widehat{e}}$ intersects $L_0$. Since $\sigma (L_0)$ is also a connected component of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(L_0)$, the curves ${\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}}$ and $\sigma ({\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}})$ are disjoint.

Each of the two connected components ${\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}}$ and $\sigma ({\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}})$ divides ${{\tilde{X}}}$. Let $\varOmega$ be the domain on ${{\tilde{X}}}$ that is bounded by ${\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}}$ and $\sigma ({\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}})$ and parts of the boundary of ${{\tilde{X}}}$. After a homotopy of ${\tilde{\gamma }}$ that fixes the endpoints we may assume that ${\tilde{\gamma }}((0,1))$ is contained in $\varOmega$. Indeed, for each connected component of ${\tilde{\gamma }}((0,1)){\setminus } \varOmega$ there is a homotopy with fixed endpoints that moves the connected component to an arc on ${\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}}$ or $\sigma ({\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}})$. A small perturbation yields a curve ${\tilde{\gamma }}'$ which is homotopic with fixed endpoints to ${\tilde{\gamma }}$ and has interior contained in $\varOmega$. Notice that by the same reasoning as above, ${\tilde{\gamma }}'((0,1))$ does not meet any $\sigma ^k({\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}})$.

The curve $\omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{\gamma }}')$ is a closed curve on A that represents a generator of the fundamental group of A with base point $q_A$. Moreover, $\omega _A\circ \omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{\gamma }}')= \omega _{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}\circ \omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{\gamma }}')={\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }}')$ represents e. Hence, the mapping $\omega _A:(A,q_A)\rightarrow (X,q)$ represents e.

The curve $\omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{\gamma }}')$ intersects $L_{\langle e\rangle }=\omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{L}}_{{\tilde{q}}})$ exactly once. Hence, $L_{\langle e\rangle }$ has limit points on both boundary circles of A for otherwise $L_{\langle e\rangle }$ would intersect one of the components of $A{\setminus } \omega ^{\langle e\rangle ,{\tilde{q}}}({\tilde{\gamma }}')$ along a set which is relatively compact in A, and ${\tilde{\gamma }}'$ would have intersection number zero with $L_{\langle e\rangle }$. It is clear that $f\circ \omega _A(L_A)=f(L_0)\subset (-1,1)$. The lemma is proved. $\square$

Proof of Lemma 2

Let $\omega _A:(A,q_A)\rightarrow (X,q)$ be the holomorphic mapping from Lemma 3 that represents e, and let $L_A\ni q_A$ be the relatively closed curve in A with limit set on both boundary components of A. Consider a positively oriented dividing curve ${\gamma }_A:[0,1]\rightarrow A$ with base point $\gamma (0)=\gamma (1)=q_A$ such that $\gamma _A((0,1))\subset A{\setminus } L_A$. The curve $\gamma =\omega _A(\gamma _A)$ represents e. The mapping $f\circ \omega _A$ is holomorphic on A and $f\circ \omega _A(\gamma _A)=f(\gamma )$ represents $f_*(e)\in \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}, q')$ with $q'=f\circ \omega _A(q_A)=f(q)\in (-1,1)$. Hence, $f\circ \omega _A(\gamma _A)$ also represents the element $(f_*(e))_{tr}\in \pi _1^{tr}({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\})$ in the relative fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},(-1,1))=\pi _1^{tr}({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\})$ corresponding to $f_*(e)$.

We prove now that $\varLambda _{tr}(f_*(e))\le \lambda (A)$. Let $A_0\Subset A$ be any relatively compact annulus in A with smooth boundary such that $q_A\in A_0$. If $A_0$ is sufficiently large, then the connected component $L_{A_0}$ of $L_A\cap A_0$ that contains $q_A$ has endpoints on different boundary components of $A_0$. The set $A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0}$ is a curvilinear rectangle. The open horizontal curvilinear sides are the strands of the cut that are reachable from the curvilinear rectangle moving counterclockwise, or clockwise, respectively. The open vertical curvilinear sides are obtained from the boundary circles of $A_0$ by removing an endpoint of the arc $L_{A_0}$. Since $f\circ \omega _A$ maps $L_{A}$ to $(-1,1)$, the restriction of $f\circ \omega _A$ to $A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0}$ represents $(f_*(e))_{tr}$. Hence,

$$\begin{aligned} \varLambda _{tr}(f_*(e))\le \lambda (A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0}). \end{aligned}$$

(11)

Moreover,

$$\begin{aligned} \lambda (A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0})\le \lambda (A_0). \end{aligned}$$

(12)

This is a consequence of the following facts. First, $\lambda (A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0})$ is equal to the extremal length $\lambda (\varGamma (A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0}))$ in the sense of Ahlfors [1] of the family $\varGamma (A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0})$ of curves in the curvilinear rectangle $A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0}$ that join the two horizontal sides of the curvilinear rectangle. Further, $\lambda (A_0)$ is equal to the extremal length $\lambda (\varGamma (A_0))$ [1] of the family $\varGamma (A_0)$ of curves in $A_0$ that are free homotopic to simple closed positively oriented dividing curves in $A_0$. Finally, by [1], Ch.1 Theorem 2, the inequality

$$\begin{aligned} \lambda (\varGamma (A_0 {\setminus } L_{A_0})) \le \lambda (\varGamma (A_0))\, \end{aligned}$$

(13)

holds. We obtain the inequality $\varLambda _{tr}(f_*(e)) \le \lambda (A_0)\,$ for each annulus $A_0\Subset A$, hence, since A belongs to the class $A({\widehat{e}})$ of conformally equivalent annuli,

$$\begin{aligned} \varLambda _{tr}(f_*(e)) \le \lambda (A({\widehat{e}})), \end{aligned}$$

(14)

and the Lemma follows from Theorem F. $\square$

The monodromies along two generators. In the following Lemma we combine the information on the monodromies along two generators of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q)$. We allow the situation when the monodromy along one generator or along each of the two generators of the fundamental group of X is a power of a standard generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},f(q))$.

Lemma 4

Let $f:X \rightarrow {\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ be a holomorphic function on a connected open Riemann surface X such that 0 is a regular value of the imaginary part of f. Suppose f maps a simple relatively closed curve $L_0$ in X to $(-1,1)$, and q is a point in $L_0$. Let $e^{(1)}$ and $e^{(2)}$ be primitive elements of $\pi _1(X,q)$. Suppose that for each $e= e^{(1)},\;e= e^{(2)}$, and $e=e^{(1)}\,e^{(2)}$, the free homotopy class ${{\widehat{e}}}$ intersects $L_0$. Then either $f_*(e^{(j)}),\, j=1,2,\,$ are (trivial or non-trivial) powers of the same standard generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ with $q'=f(q) \in (-1,1)$, or each of them is the product of at most two elements $w_1$ and $w_2$ of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ with

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(w_j) \le 2\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}},\, j=1,2, \end{aligned}$$

where

Hence,

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(f_*(e^{(j)})) \le 4 \pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}, \, j=1,2. \end{aligned}$$

(15)

Proof

If the monodromies $f_*(e^{(1)})$ and $f_*(e^{(2)})$ are not powers of a single standard generator (the identity is considered as zeroth power of a standard generator) we obtain the following. At most two of the elements, $f_*(e^{(1)})$, $f_*(e^{(2)})$, and $f_*(e^{(1)}\, e^{(2)})= f_*(e^{(1)})\, f_*(e^{(2)})$, are powers of a standard generator, and if two of them are powers of a standard generator, then they are non-zero powers of different standard generators. If two of them are non-zero powers of standard generators, then the third has the form $a_{\ell }^{k} a_{\ell '}^{k'}$ with $a_{\ell }$ and $a_{\ell ' }$ being different generators and k and $k'$ being non-zero integers. By Lemma 2 the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of the third element does not exceed $2\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}$. On the other hand it equals $\log (3|k'|)+ \log (3|k|)$. Hence, ${\mathcal {L}}_-(a_{\ell }^{k}) = \log (3|k|)\le 2\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}$ and ${\mathcal {L}}_-(a_{\ell ' }^{k'}) = \log (3|k'|)\le 2\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}$.

If two of the elements $f_*(e^{(1)})$, $f_*(e^{(2)})$, and $f_*(e^{(1)}\, e^{(2)})= f_*(e^{(1)})\, f_*(e^{(2)})$, are not powers of a standard generator, then the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of each of the two elements does not exceed $2\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}$. Since the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of an element coincides with the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of its inverse, the third element is the product of two elements with ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}$. Since for $x,x'\ge 2$ the inequality $\log (x+x')\le \log x +\log x'$ holds, the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of the product does not exceed the sum of the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of the factors. Hence the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of the third element does not exceed $4\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}$. Hence, inequality (15) holds. $\square$

The following proposition states the existence of suitable connected components of the zero set of the imaginary part of certain analytic functions on tori with a hole and on planar domains. For any subset ${\mathcal {E}}'$ of $\pi _1(X;q_0)$ we denote by $({\mathcal {E}}')^{-1}$ the set of all elements that are inverse to elements in ${\mathcal {E}}'$. Recall that ${\mathcal {E}}_j$ is the set of primitive elements of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ which can be written as product of at most j elements of ${\mathcal {E}}\cup ({\mathcal {E}})^{-1}$ for the set ${\mathcal {E}}$ of generators of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ chosen in the introduction.

Proposition 3

Let X be a torus with a hole or a planar domain with base point $q_0$ and fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$, and let ${\mathcal {E}}$ be a set of generators of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ that is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for X. Let $f: X \rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ be a non-contractible holomorphic mapping such that 0 is a regular value of ${\mathrm{Im}} f$. Then there exist a simple relatively closed curve $L_0\subset X$ such that $f(L_0) \subset {\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},$ and a set ${\mathcal {E}}_2' \subset {\mathcal {E}}_2 \subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ of primitive elements of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$, such that the following holds. Each element $e_{j,0} \in {\mathcal {E}} \subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'\cup ({\mathcal {E}}_2')^{-1}$. Moreover, for each $e_0 \in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ which is the product of one or two elements from ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ the free homotopy class $\widehat{ e_0}$ has positive intersection number with $L_0$ (after suitable orientation of $L_0$).

If X is a torus with a hole or X equals ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes, we may chose ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ consisting of two elements, one of them contained in ${\mathcal {E}}$, the other is either contained in ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$ or is a product of two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$.

Notice the following facts. By Theorem E a mapping $f:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ is contractible if and only if for each $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ the monodromy $f_*(e_0)$ is equal to the identity. The mapping f is reducible if and only if the mondromy mapping $f_*:\pi _1(X,q_0)\rightarrow \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},f(q_0))$ is conjugate to a mapping into a subgroup $\varGamma$ of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},f(q_0))$ that is generated by a single element that is represented by a curve which separates one of the points $1,-1$ or $\infty$ from the other points. In other words, $\varGamma$ is (after identifying fundamental groups with different base point up to conjugacy) generated by a conjugate of one of the elements $a_1$, $a_2$ or $a_1a_2$ of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$.

If f is irreducible, then it is not contractible, and, hence, the preimage $f^{-1}({\mathbb {R}})$ is not empty.

Denote by $M_1$ a Möbius transformation which permutes the points $-1,\,1,\, \infty$ and maps the interval $(-\infty ,-1)$ onto $(-1,1)$, and let $M_2$ be a Möbius transformation which permutes the points $-1,\,1,\, \infty$ and maps the interval $(1,\infty )$ onto $(-1,1)$. Let $M_0{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \text{ Id }$.

The main step for the proof of Theorem 1 is the following Proposition 4.

Recall that $\lambda _j(X)$ was defined in the introduction. Since for $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ the equality $\lambda ({\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0\rangle ))=\lambda (A(\widehat{e_0}))$ holds, $\lambda _j(X)$ is the maximum of $\lambda (A(\widehat{e_0}))$ over $e_0\in {\mathcal {E}}_j$.

Proposition 4

Let X be a connected finite open Riemann surface with base point $q_0$, and let ${\mathcal {E}}$ be the set of generators of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ that was chosen in Sect. 1. Suppose $f:X \rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ is an irreducible holomorphic mapping, such that 0 is a regular value of ${\mathrm{Im}}f$. Then for one of the functions $M_l \circ f,\, l=0,1,2,\,$ which we denote by F, there exists a point $q \in X$ (depending on f), such that the point $q' {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}F(q)$ is contained in $(-1,1)$, and a curve $\alpha$ in X joining $q_0$ with q, such that the following holds. For each element $e_j\in \text{ Is}_{\alpha }(\mathcal {E})$ the monodromy $F_*(e_j)$ is the product of at most four elements of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ of ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2 \pi \lambda _7(X)$ and, hence,

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(F_*(e_j)) \le 8\pi \lambda _7(X) \;\; \text{ for } \text{ each }\;\, j. \end{aligned}$$

(16)

If X is a torus with a hole the proposition holds with $\lambda _7(X)$ replaced by $\lambda _3(X)$. If X is a planar domain the proposition holds with $\lambda _4(X)$ instead of $\lambda _7(X)$.

Notice, that all monodromies of contractible mappings are equal to the identity, hence the inequality (16) holds automatically for contractible mappings.

We postpone the proof of the two propositions and prove first the Theorem 1.

Proof of Theorem 1

Let X be a connected finite open Riemann surface (possibly of second kind) with base point $q_0$. Consider an arbitrary open Riemann surface $X^0 \Subset X$ which is relatively compact in X and is a deformation retract of X. Consider a free homotopy class of mappings from X to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$, that is represented by an irreducible holomorphic mapping ${\textsf {f}}:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. Notice that the restriction ${\textsf {f}}|X^0$ is also irreducible. Take a small enough positive number $\varepsilon$, such that the function $({\textsf {f}} - i \varepsilon )\mid X^0$ takes values in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ and 0 is a regular value of its imaginary part. Put $f= ({\textsf {f}} - i \varepsilon )\mid X^0$. If $\varepsilon$ is small enough, then the irreducible mapping f on $X^0$ is free homotopic to ${\textsf {f}}\mid X^0$. We identify the fundamental groups of X and of $X^0$ by the inclusion mapping from $X^0$ to X.

Proposition 4 applied to the mapping $f:X^0\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ provides a Möbius transformation $M_l$, that maps one of the components of ${\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ onto $(-1,1)$, and further a point $q\in X^0$ and a curve $\alpha$ in $X^0$ with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q, such for the mapping $F=M_l \circ f$ the point $q'{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} F(q)$ is contained in $(-1,1)$, and for the generators $e_j{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(e_{j,0}),\; e_{j,0}\in {\mathcal {E}},$ of $\pi _1(X^0,q)$ the inequalities (16) hold. After identifying the fundamental groups $\pi _1(X,q)$ and $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ with different base point by an isomorphism that is defined up to conjugation, Theorem E states that the free homotopy class of F corresponds to a conjugacy class of homomorphisms

$$\begin{aligned} \pi _1(X,q_0)\cong \pi _1(X,q)\rightarrow \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q'), \end{aligned}$$

that is represented by a homomorphism h for which ${\mathcal {L}}_-(h(e_{j,0})) \le 8\pi \lambda _7(X^0)$ for each $e_{j,0}\in {\mathcal {E}}$. More explicitly, there exists a smooth mapping ${\tilde{F}}:X^0\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$, that is free homotopic to F, maps $q_0$ to $q'$, and satisfies the inequality

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-({\tilde{F}}_*(e_{j,0})) \le 8\pi \lambda _7(X^0) \end{aligned}$$

(17)

for each $e_{j,0}\in {\mathcal {E}}$. The existence of the smooth mapping ${\tilde{F}}$ can be seen explicitly as follows. Write $e=\text{ Is}_{\alpha }(e_{0}) \in \pi _1(X,q)$ for each $e_{0}\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$. Parameterise $\alpha$ by the interval [0, 1]. The image of $\alpha$ under the mapping F is the curve $\beta = F \circ \alpha$ in ${\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ with initial point $F(q_0)$ and terminating point $F(q)=q'$. Then $F_*(e_{0})=(\text{ Is}_{\beta })^{-1}(F_*(e))$. Choose a homotopy $F_t,\, t \in [0,1]$, that joins the mapping $F_0 {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}F$ with a (smooth) mapping $F_1$ denoted by ${{\tilde{F}}}$, so that $F_t(q_0)=\beta (t),\, t\in [0,1]$. The value $\beta (t)$ moves from the point $\beta (0)=F(q_0)$ to $\beta (1)=q'$ along the curve $\beta$. Then ${{\tilde{F}}}(q_0)=q'$ and ${{\tilde{F}}}_*(e_{0})=F_*(e)$ for each $e_0 \in \pi _1(X,q_0)$. Indeed, denote by $\beta _t$ the curve that runs from $\beta (t)$ to $\beta (1)$ along $\beta$. Then $\beta _0=\beta$ and $\beta _1$ is a constant curve. Let $\gamma _0$ be a curve that represents $e_0$. The base point of the curve $F_t(\gamma _0)$ equals $F_t(q_0)=\beta (t)$. Hence, we obtain a continuous family of curves $\beta _t^{-1} F_t(\gamma _0) \beta _t$ with base point $\beta (1)=F(q)$. For $t=1$ the curve is equal to $F_1(\gamma _0)={\tilde{F}}(\gamma _0)$, for $t=0$ the curve is equal to $\beta ^{-1} F_0(\gamma _0) \beta =F_0(\alpha ^{-1} \mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(\gamma _0)\alpha )=F_0(\gamma )$. Since the two curves $F_1(\gamma _0)$ and $F_0(\gamma )$ are homotopic and $F_1={{\tilde{F}}}$, $F_0=F$, we obtain ${\tilde{F}}_*(e_0)=F_*(e)$. The inequalities (16) imply the inequalities (17).

For each irreducible holomorphic mapping ${\textsf {f}}:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ we found a Möbius transformation $M_l$ and a mapping ${{\tilde{F}}} :X^0\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ that satisfies the condition ${{{\tilde{F}}}} (q_0)=q'\in (-1,1)$ and the inequalities (17), and is free homotopic on $X^0$ to $M_l(({\textsf {f}}-i \varepsilon )|X^0)$ for a small number $\varepsilon$, and, hence, is free homotopic to $M_l({\textsf {f}}|X^0)$. Using a deformation retraction we obtain a mapping ${\tilde{F}}^X:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ that is free homotopic on $X^0$ to ${\tilde{F}}$ and, hence, to $M_l({\textsf {f}}|X^0)$. Identifying the fundamental groups $\pi _1(X^0,q_0)$ and $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ by the homomorphism induced by the inclusion and applying Theorem E, we obtain for each irreducible holomorphic mapping ${\textsf {f}}:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ a Möbius transformation $M_l$ and a smooth mapping ${\tilde{F}}^X:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ that is free homotopic to $M_l(\textsf { f})$ on X, and satisfies the condition ${{{\tilde{F}}}}^X (q_0)=q'\in (-1,1)$ and the inequalities (17).

If ${\textsf {f}}:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ is a contractible mapping, it is free homotopic to the function ${\tilde{F}}^X\equiv 0$ on X, and the inequalities (17) are automatically satisfied for the monodromies of ${\tilde{F}}^X$.

The number of free homotopy classes of mappings $X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$, that contain a smooth mapping ${\tilde{F}}^X$, which satisfies the condition ${\tilde{F}}^X(q_0)=q'\in (-1,1)$ and the inequalities (17), are estimated from above as follows. By Lemma 1 of [19] there are at most $\frac{1}{2}e^{24\pi \lambda _7(X^0)}+1\le \frac{3}{2}e^{24\pi \lambda _7(X^0)}$ different reduced words $w \in \pi _1({\mathcal {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}),0)$ (including the identity) with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(w)\le 8\pi \lambda _7(X^0)$. Identify standard generators of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ with standard generators of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$ by the canonical isomorphism. We saw, that there are at most $(\frac{3}{2}e^{24\pi \lambda _7(X^0)})^{2g+m}$ different homomorphisms $h:\pi _1(X^0,q_0)\cong \pi _1(X,q_0) \rightarrow \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q') \cong \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(h(e))\le 8\pi \lambda _7(X^0)$ for each element e of the set of generators ${\mathcal {E}}$ of $\pi _1(X^0,q_0)$. By Theorem E there are at most $(\frac{3}{2}e^{24\pi \lambda _7(X^0)})^{2g+m}$ different free homotopy classes of mappings $X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$, that contain a smooth mapping ${\tilde{F}}^X$ which satisfies the condition ${\tilde{F}}^X(q_0)=q'\in (-1,1)$ and the inequalities (17).

For each irreducible or contractible mapping $\textsf {f}$ on X one of the mappings $M_l\circ \textsf {f}$, $l=0,1,2,$ is free homotopic to a mapping ${\tilde{F}}^X$ which satisfies the condition ${\tilde{F}}^X(q_0)=q'\in (-1,1)$ and the inequalities (17). The $(M_l)^{-1}\circ {\tilde{F}}^X$ represent at most $3(\frac{3}{2}e^{24 \pi \lambda _7(X^0)})^{2g+m}$ free homotopy classes of irreducible or contractible mappings $X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. Theorem 1 is proved with the upper bound $3(\frac{3}{2}e^{24 \pi \lambda _7(X^0)})^{2g+m}$ for an arbitrary relatively compact domain $X^0\subset X$ that is a deformation retract of X.

It remains to prove that $\lambda _7(X)= \inf \{\lambda _7(X^0): X^0 \Subset X \; \text {is a deformation retract of } X\,\}$. We have to prove that for each $e_0 \in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ the quantity $\lambda (A(\widehat{e_0}))=\lambda ({\widetilde{X}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle ))$ is equal to the infimum of $\lambda ( \widetilde{X^0}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle ))$ over all $X^0$ being open relatively compact subsets of X which are deformation retracts of X. Here $\widetilde{X^0}$ is the universal covering of $X^0$, and the fundamental groups of X and $X^0$ are identified. $\widetilde{X^0}$ (${\widetilde{X}}$, respectively) can be defined as set of homotopy classes of arcs in $X^0$ (in X, respectively) joining $q_0$ with a point $q\in X^0$ (in X respectively) equipped with the complex structure induced by the projection to the endpoint of the arcs, and the point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ corresponds to the class of the constant curve. The isomorphism $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}$ from $\pi _1(X^0,q_0)$ to the group of covering transformations on $\widetilde{X^0}$ is defined in the same way as it was done for X instead of $X^0$. These considerations imply that there is a holomorphic mapping from ${\widetilde{X}}^0 \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle )$ into ${\widetilde{X}} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle )$. Hence, the extremal length of the first set is not smaller than the extremal length of the second set.

Vice versa, take any annulus $A^0$ which is a relatively compact subset of $A(\widehat{e_0})$ and is a deformation retract of $A(\widehat{e_0})$. Its projection to X is relatively compact in X, hence, it is contained in a relatively compact deformation retract $X^0$ of X. Hence, $A^0$ can be considered as subset of $\widetilde{X^0} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle )$, and, hence, $\lambda (\widetilde{X^0} \diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(\langle e_0 \rangle )) \le \lambda (A^0)$. Since $\lambda (A(\widehat{e_0})) = \inf \{\lambda (A^0): A^0 \Subset A(\widehat{e_0}) \text { is a deformation retract of }A(\widehat{e_0}) \}$ we are done. $\square$

We proved a slightly stronger statement, namely, the number of homotopy classes of mappings $X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ that contain a contractible holomorphic mapping or an irreducible holomorphic mapping does not exceed $3(\frac{3}{2}e^{24\pi \lambda _7(X)})^{2g+m}$.

Proof of Proposition 3

Denote the zero set $\{x\in X: \text{ Im }f(x)=0\}$ by L. Since f is not contractible, $L\ne \emptyset$.

1. A torus with a hole. Assume first that X is a torus with a hole with base point $q_0$. For notational convenience we denote by $e_0$ and ${e'_0}$ the two elements of the set of generators ${\mathcal {E}}$ of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ that is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for X. We claim that there is a connected component $L_0$ of L such that (after suitable orientation) the intersection number of the free homotopy class of one of the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$, say of $\widehat{e_0}$, with $L_0$ is positive, and the intersection number with one of the classes , or , or with $L_0$ is positive.

The claim is easy to prove in the case when there is a component of $L_0$ which is a simple closed curve that is not contractible and not contractible to the hole of X. Indeed, consider the inclusion of X into a closed torus $X^c$ and the homomorphism on fundamental groups $\pi _1(X,q_0)\rightarrow \pi _1(X^c,q_0)$ induced by the inclusion. Denote by $e_0^c$ and ${e'_0}^c$ the images of $e_0$ and $e_0'$ under this homomorphism. Notice that $e_0^c$ and ${e'_0}^c$ commute. The (image under the inclusion of the) curve $L_0$ is a simple closed non-contractible curve in $X^c$. It represents the free homotopy class of an element $(e_0^c)^j({e'_0}^c)^k$ for some integers j and k which are not both equal to zero. Hence, $L_0$ is not null-homologous in $X^c$, and by the Poincaré Duality Theorem for one of the generators, say for $e_0^c$, the representatives of the free homotopy class have non-zero intersection number with $L_0$. After suitable orientation of $L_0$, we may assume that this intersection number is positive. There is a representative of the class which is contained in X, hence, $\widehat{e_0}$ has positive intersection number with $L_0$.

Suppose all compact connected components of L are contractible or contractible to the hole of X. Consider a relatively compact domain ${X}''\Subset {X}$ in X with smooth boundary which is a deformation retract of X such that for each connected component of L at most one component of its intersection with ${X}''$ is not contractible to the hole of ${X}''$. (See the paragraph on “Regular zero sets”.) There is at least one component of $L\cap {X}''$ that is not contractible to the hole of ${X}''$. Indeed, otherwise the free homotopy class of each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ could be represented by a loop avoiding L, and, hence, the monodromy of f along each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ would be conjugate to the identity, and, hence, equal to the identity, i.e. contrary to the assumption, $f:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ would be free homotopic to a constant.

Take a component $L_0''$ of $L\cap {X}''$ that is not contractible to the hole of ${X}''$. There is an arc of $\partial {X}''$ between the endpoints of $L_0''$ such that the union ${\tilde{L}}_0$ of the component $L_0''$ with this arc is a closed curve in X that is not contractible and not contractible to the hole. Hence, for one of the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$, say for $e_0$, the intersection number of the free homotopy class $\widehat{e_0}$ with the closed curve ${\tilde{L}}_0$ is positive after orienting the curve ${\tilde{L}}_0$ suitably. We may take a representative $\gamma$ of $\widehat{e_0}$ that is contained in ${X}''$. Then $\gamma$ has positive intersection number with $L_0''$. Denote the connected component of L that contains $L_0''$ by $L_0$. All components of $L_0\cap {X}''$ different from $L_0''$ are contractible to the hole of ${X}''$. Hence, $\gamma$ has intersection number zero with each of these components. Hence, $\gamma$ has positive intersection number with $L_0$ since ${\gamma }\subset {X}''$. We proved that the class $\widehat{e_0}$ has positive intersection number with $L_0$.

If also has non-zero intersection number with $L_0$ we define $e''_0=(e'_0)^{\pm 1}$ so that the intersection number of with $L_0$ is positive. If has zero intersection number with $L_0$ we put $e''_0=e_0 \,e'_0$. Then again the intersection number of with $L_0$ is positive. Also, the intersection number of with $L_0$ is positive. The set ${\mathcal {E}}_2'{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\{e_0,e_0''\}$ satisfies the condition required in the proposition. We obtained Proposition 3 for a torus with a hole.

2. A planar domain. Let X be a planar domain. The domain X is conformally equivalent to a disc with m smoothly bounded holes, equivalently, to the Riemann sphere with $m+1$ smoothly bounded holes, ${\mathbb {P}}^1 {\setminus } \bigcup _{j=1}^{m+1}{\mathcal {C}}_j$, where ${\mathcal {C}}_{m+1}$ contains the point $\infty$. As before the base point of X is denoted by $q_0$, and for each $j=1,\ldots ,m,$ the generator $e_{j,0}\in {\mathcal {E}}\subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ is represented by a curve that surrounds ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ once counterclockwise. Since f is not contractible, there must be a connected component of L that has limit points on some ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ with $j\le m$. Indeed, otherwise the free homotopy class of each generator could be represented by a curve that avoids L. This would imply that all monodromies are equal to the identity. We claim that there exists a component $L_0$ of L with limit points on the boundary of two components $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}_{j'}$ and $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}_{j''}$ for some $j', j'' \in \{1,\ldots ,m+1\}$ with $j''\ne j'$.

Indeed, assume the contrary. Then, if a component of L has limit points on a component $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}_{j},\, j\le m,$ then all its limit points are on $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}_{j}$. Take a smoothly bounded simply connected domain ${{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}\Subset X\cup {{{\mathcal {C}}}_{j}}$ that contains the closed set ${{{\mathcal {C}}}_{j}}$ , so that its boundary $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}$ represents . Then all components $L'_k$ of $L{\setminus } {{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}$ with an endpoint on $\partial {\mathcal {C}}'_{j}$ have another endpoint on this circle. The two endpoints of $L_k'$ on $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}$ divide $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}$ into two connected components. The union of $\overline{L_k'}$ with each of the two components of $\partial {{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}{\setminus } \overline{L_k'}$ is a simple closed curve in ${\mathbb {C}}$, and, hence, by the Jordan Curve Theorem it bounds a relatively compact topological disc in ${\mathbb {C}}$. One of these discs contains ${{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}$, the other does not. Assign to each component $L_k'$ of $L {\setminus } {{\mathcal {C}}}'_{j}$ with both endpoints on $\partial {\mathcal {C}}'_{j}$ the closed arc $\alpha _k$ in $\partial {\mathcal {C}}'_{j}$ with the same endpoints as $L_k'$, whose union with $L_k'$ bounds a relatively compact topological disc in ${\mathbb {C}}$ that does not contain ${\mathcal {C}}'_{j}$. These discs are partially ordered by inclusion, since the $L_k'$ are pairwise disjoint. Hence, the arcs $\alpha _k$ are partially ordered by inclusion. For an arc $\alpha _k$ which contains no other of the arcs (a minimal arc) the curve $f \circ \alpha _k$ except its endpoints is contained in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } {\mathbb {R}}$. Moreover, the endpoints of $f \circ \alpha _k$ lie on ${f(\overline{L_k'})}$, which is contained in one connected components of ${\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$, since $\overline{L_k'}$ is connected. Hence, the curve $f \circ \alpha _k$ is homotopic in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ (with fixed endpoints) to a curve in ${\mathbb {R}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. The function f either maps all points on $\partial {\mathcal {C}}'_{j}{\setminus } \alpha _k$ that are close to $\alpha _k$ to the open upper half-plane or maps them all to the open lower half-plane. (Recall, that zero is a regular value of $\text{ Im }f$.) Hence, for an open arc $\alpha '_k \subset \partial {\mathcal {C}}'_{j}$ that contains $\alpha _k$ the curve $f \circ \alpha '_k$ is homotopic in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ (with fixed endpoints) to a curve in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } {\mathbb {R}}$.

Consider the arcs $\alpha _k$ with the following property. For an open arc $\alpha '_k$ in $\partial {\mathcal {C}}'_{j}$ which contains the closed arc $\alpha _k$ the mapping $f \circ \alpha '_k$ is homotopic in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ (with fixed endpoints) to a curve contained in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } {\mathbb {R}}$. Induction on the arcs by inclusion shows that this property is satisfied for all maximal arcs among the $\alpha _k$ and, hence, $f \mid \partial {\mathcal {C}}'_{j}$ is contractible in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. Hence, if the claim was not true, then for each hole ${\mathcal {C}}_j,\, j\le m$, whose boundary contains limit points of a connected component of L, the monodromy along the curve ${\mathcal {C}}'_j$ (with any base point contained in $\mathcal {C}'_j$) that represents would be trivial. Then all monodromies would be trivial, which contradicts the fact that the mapping is not contractible. The contradiction proves the claim.

With $j'$ and $j''$ being the numbers of the claim and $j'\le m$ we consider the set ${\mathcal {E}}_2' \subset {\mathcal {E}}_2$ which consists of the following primitive elements: $e_{j',0}$, the element $(e_{j'',0})^{-1}$ provided $j'' \ne m+1$, and $e_{j',0}\, e_{j,0}$ for all $j=1,\ldots ,m,\, j\ne j', j \ne j''$. The free homotopy class of each element of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ has intersection number 1 with $L_0$ after suitable orientation of the curve $L_0$. Each product of at most two different elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ is a primitive element of $\pi _1(X,q)$ and is contained in ${\mathcal {E}}_4$. Moreover, the intersection number with $L_0$ of the free homotopy class of each product of at most two different elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ equals 1 or 2. Each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'\cup ({\mathcal {E}}_2')^{-1}$.

The proposition is proved for the case of planar domains X. $\square$

Proof of Proposition 4

1. A torus with a hole. Consider the curve $L_0$ and the set ${\mathcal {E}}_2' \subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ obtained in Proposition 3. For one of the functions $M_l \circ f$, denoted by F, the image $F (L_0)$ is contained in $(-1,1)$. Let $e_0$, $e_0'$ be the two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$. Move the base point $q_0$ to a point $q\in L_0$ along a curve $\alpha$ in X, and consider the generators $e=\text{ Is}_{\alpha } (e_0)$ and $e'=\text{ Is}_{\alpha } ({e'_0})$ of $\pi _1(X,q)$, and the set $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')\subset \pi _1(X,q)$. Then e and $e'$ are products of at most two elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$. Since the free homotopy class of an element of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ coincides with the free homotopy class of the element of $\pi _1(X,q)$ obtained by applying $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }$, the free homotopy class of each product of one or two elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ intersects $L_0$. We may assume as in the proof of Proposition 3 that $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ consists of the elements e and $e''$, where $e''$ is either equal to ${e'}^{\pm 1}$, or equals the product of e and $e'$. Lemma 4 applies to the pair e, $e''$, the function F, and the curve $L_0$. Since F is irreducible, the monodromies of F along e and $e''$ are not powers of a single standard generator of the fundamental group of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$. Hence, the monodromy along each of the e and $e''$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2 \pi \lambda _{e,e''}$. Therefore, the monodromy of F along each of the e and $e''$ has ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $4 \pi \lambda _{e,e''}$. Notice that $\lambda _{e,e''}=\lambda _{e_0 e_0''}\le \lambda _3(X)$, since $e_0''$ is the product of at most two factors, each an element of ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$. Since $e'$ is the product of at most two different elements among the e and $e''$ and their inverses, we obtain Proposition 4 for e and $e'$, in particular ${\mathcal {L}}_-(F_*(e))$ and ${\mathcal {L}}_-(F_*( e'))$ do not exceed $8\pi \lambda _3(X)$. Proposition 4 is proved for tori with a hole.

2. A planar domain. Consider the curve $L_0$ and the set ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ of Proposition 3. Move the base point $q_0$ along an arc $\alpha$ to a point $q \in L_0$. Then $f(q) \in {\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ and for one of the mappings f, $M_1 \circ f$, or $M_2 \circ f$, denoted by F, the inclusion $F(L_0)\subset (-1,1))$ holds, hence, $q'{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}F(q)$ is contained in $(-1,1)$. Denote $e_j = \text{ Is}_{\alpha }(e_{j,0})$ for each element $e_{j,0}\in {\mathcal {E}}$. The $e_j$ form the basis $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$ of $\pi _1(X,q)$. The set $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ consists of primitive elements of $\pi _1(X,q)$ such that the free homotopy class of each product of one or two elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ intersects $L_0$. Moreover, each element of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$ is the product of one or two elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2') \cup (\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2'))^{-1}$.

By the condition of the proposition not all monodromies $F_*(e),\, e \in \text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2'),$ are (trivial or non-trivial) powers of the same standard generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$. Apply Lemma 4 to all pairs of elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ whose monodromies are not (trivial or non-trivial) powers of the same standard generator of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}} {\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$. Since the product of at most two different elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ is contained in $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_4)$, Lemma 4 shows that the monodromy $F_*(e)$ along each element $e \in \text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ is the product of at most two factors, each with ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2 \pi \lambda _4(X)$. Since each element of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$ is a product of at most two factors in ${\mathcal {E}}_2' \cup ({\mathcal {E}}_2')^{-1}$, the monodromy $F_*(e_j)$ along each generator $e_j$ of $\pi _1(X,q)$ is the product of at most 4 factors of ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2 \pi \lambda _4(X)$, and, hence, each monodromy $F_*(e_j)$ has ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $8 \pi \lambda _4(X)$. Proposition 4 is proved for planar domains.

3.1 The general case. Diagrams of coverings

We will use diagrams of coverings to reduce this case to the case of a torus with a hole or to the case of the Riemann sphere with three holes.

Let as before ${\tilde{q}}_0$ be the point in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{q}}_0)=q_0$ chosen in Sect. 2 . Let N be a subgroup of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ and let $\omega ^N:{\tilde{X}}\rightarrow {\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N)=X(N)$ be the projection defined in Sect. 2. Put $(q_0)_N {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega ^N({\tilde{q}}_0)$. For an element $e_0\in N\subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ we denote by $(e_0)_N$ the element of $\pi _1(X(N),(q_0)_N)$ that is obtained as follows. Take a curve $\gamma$ in X with base point $q_0$ that represents $e_0\in N$. Let ${{\tilde{\gamma }}}$ be its lift to ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point ${\tilde{q}}_0$. Then $\gamma _N{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega ^N({\tilde{\gamma }})$ is a closed curve in $X(N)={\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N)$ with base point $(q_0)_N$. The element of $\pi _1(X(N), (q_0)_N)$ represented by $\gamma _N$ is the required element $(e_0)_N$. All curves $\gamma '_N$ representing $(e_0)_N$ have the form $\omega ^N({\tilde{\gamma }}')$ for a curve ${\tilde{\gamma }}'$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and initial point $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(e_0)({\tilde{q}}_0)$. Since $\omega _N\circ \omega ^N={\textsf {P}}$, the curve $\omega _N(\gamma '_N)={\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }}')={\gamma }'$ represents $e_0$ for each curve $\gamma '_N$ in X(N) that represents $(e_0)_N$. We obtain $(\omega _N)_*((e_0)_N)=e_0$. For two subgroups $N_1\le N_2$ of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ we obtain $(\omega ^{N_2}_{N_1})_*((e_0)_{N_1})=(e_0)_{N_2}$, $e_0\in N_1$ (see the commutative diagram Fig. 3).

Let ${{\tilde{q}}}$ be another base point of ${{\tilde{X}}}$ and let ${{\tilde{\alpha }}}$ be a curve in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with initial point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and terminating point ${{\tilde{q}}}$. Let again N be a subgroup of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$. Put $q_N{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega ^N({\tilde{q}})$. The curve $\alpha _N=\omega ^N({\tilde{\alpha }})$ in X(N), and the base point ${{\tilde{q}}}$ of ${{\tilde{X}}}$ are compatible, hence, $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}(N)=(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _N}(N))$ and $X(\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _N}(N)){\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\tilde{X}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{\tilde{q}})^{-1}(\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _N}(N))=\tilde{X}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{\tilde{q}_0})^{-1}( N )=X(N)$.

We will use the previous notation $\omega ^{N_2}_{N_1}$ also for the projection ${\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _{N_1}}(N_1))\rightarrow {\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _{N_2}}(N_2))$, $N_1\le N_2$ being subgroups of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ ($N_1$ may be the identity and $N_2$ may be $\pi _1(X,q_0)$.)

Put $\alpha {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}{\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\alpha }})$. For an element $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ we put $e{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(e_0)\in \pi _1(X,q)$ and denote by $e_N$ the element of $\pi _1(X(N),q_N)$, that is represented by $\omega ^N({\tilde{\gamma }})$ for a curve ${{\tilde{\gamma }}}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point ${{\tilde{q}}}$ and projection ${\textsf {P}}({\tilde{\gamma }})$ representing e. Again $(\omega ^{N_2}_{N_1})_*(e_{N_1})=e_{N_2}$ for subgroups $N_1\le N_2$ of $\pi _1(X,q)$ and $e\in N_1$, in particular $( \omega _{N})_*(e_{N})=e$ for a subgroup N of $\pi _1(X,q)$ and $e\in N$.

3.2 The estimate for a chosen pair of monodromies

Since the mapping $f:X\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ is irreducible, there exist two elements $e_0',\, e_0''\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ such that the monodromies $f_*(e_0')$ and $f_*(e_0'')$ are not powers of a single conjugate of a power of one of the elements $a_1$, $a_2$ or $a_1a_2$. The fundamental group of the Riemann surface $X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )$ is a free group in the two generators $(e'_0)_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ and $(e''_0)_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$, hence, $X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )$ is either a torus with a hole or is equal to ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes. Moreover, the system ${\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }=\{(e'_0)_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }, \,(e''_0)_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }\}$ of generators of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle ),(q_0)_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })$ is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )$. This can be seen as follows. The set of generators ${\mathcal {E}}$ of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for X. For each $e_0\in {\mathcal {E}}$ we denote the circle of the bouquet that represents $e_0$ by $\gamma _{e_0}$. For each $e_0\in {\mathcal {E}}$ we lift the circle $\gamma _{e_0}$ with base point $q_0$ to an arc $\widetilde{\gamma _{e_0}}$ in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point $\tilde{q_0}$. Let D be a small disc in X around $q_0$, and $\widetilde{D_0}$, $\widetilde{D_{e_0}}, e_0\in {\mathcal {E}},$ be the preimages of D under the projection ${\textsf {P}}:{\tilde{X}}\rightarrow X$, that contain $\tilde{q_0}$, or the initial point of $\widetilde{\gamma _{e_0}}$, respectively. We assume that D is small enough so that the mentioned preimages of D are pairwise disjoint. Put $D_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }=\omega ^{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }(\widetilde{D_0})$. For $e_0\ne e'_0,e''_0$ the image $\omega ^{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }(\widetilde{D_0}\cup \widetilde{\gamma _{e_0}}\cup \widetilde{D_{e_0}} )$ is the union of an arc $\omega ^{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle } (\widetilde{\gamma _{e_0}})$ in $X(\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle )$ with two disjoint discs, each containing an endpoint of the arc and one of them equal to $D_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$. For $e_0=e'_0,e''_0$ the image $\omega ^{\langle e',e''\rangle }(\widetilde{D_0}\cup \widetilde{\gamma _{e_0}}\cup \widetilde{D_{e_0}} )$ is the union of $D_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ with the loop $(\gamma _{e_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega ^{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }( \widetilde{\gamma _{e_0}})$. For $e_0=e'_0,e''_0$ the loop $(\gamma _{e_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ in $X(\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle )$ has base point $(q_0)_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }=\omega ^{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }(\tilde{q_0})$ and represents the generator $(e_0)_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ of the fundamental group of $\pi _1(X(\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle ),(q_0)_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle })$. Since the bouquet of circles $\cup _{e_0\in {\mathcal {E}}}\, \gamma _{e_0}$ is a standard bouquet of circles for X, the union $(\gamma _{e'_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle } \cup (\gamma _{e''_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ is a standard bouquet of circles in $X(\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle )$. This can be seen by looking at the intersections of the loops with a circle that is contained in $D_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ and surrounds $(q_0)_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$. By the commutative diagram of coverings the intersection behaviour is the same as for the images of these objects under $\omega _{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$. Hence, since $(\gamma _{e'_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ and $(\gamma _{e''_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ represent the generators $({e'_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ and $({e''_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ of ${\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$, the union $(\gamma _{e'_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle } \cup (\gamma _{e''_0})_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$ is a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle )$.

The set $X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )$ is either a torus with a hole or is equal to ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes. Apply Proposition 3 to the Riemann surface $X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )$ with base point $(q_0)_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle }$, the holomorphic mapping $f_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }=f\circ \omega _{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ into ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$, and the set of generators ${\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X(\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle ),(q_0)_{\langle e'_0,e''_0\rangle })$. We obtain a relatively closed curve $L_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ on which the function $f_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ is real, and a set $({\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_2'=\{({\textsf {e}}_0')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle },({\textsf {e}}_0'')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }\}$ which contains one of the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$. The second element of $({\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_2'$ is either equal to second element of ${\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ or to its inverse, or to the product of the two elements (in any order) of ${\mathcal {E}}_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$. (We will usually refer to the product $({ e}_0')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }\,({e}_0'') _{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }=({ e}_0'\,{ e}_0'')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$, but we may change the product $({ e}_0'\,{ e}_0'')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ to the product $({ e}_0''\,{ e}_0')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$, without changing the arguments and the estimate of the ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ of the monodromies of the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$.) The free homotopy classes , , and intersect $L_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$.

Choose a point $q_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }\in L_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ and a point ${\tilde{q}}\in {\tilde{X}}$ with $\omega ^{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }({\tilde{q}})= q_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$. Let ${\tilde{\alpha }}$ be a curve in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with initial point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and terminating point ${{\tilde{q}}}$, and $\alpha _{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }= \omega ^{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }({\tilde{\alpha }})$. Put ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }}(({\textsf {e}}_0')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })$ and ${\textsf {e}}''_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }}(({\textsf {e}}_0'')_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })$. For one out of three Möbius transformations $M_l$ the mapping $F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }=M_l\circ f_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }=M_l\circ f\circ \omega _{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ takes $L_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ to $(-1,1)$, and hence $F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$ takes a value $q'=F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }(q_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })\in (-1,1)$ at $q_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }$. By Lemma 4 each of the $(F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })$ and $(F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}''_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })$ is the product of at most two elements of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ of ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2\pi \lambda _3(X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle ))$, hence,

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-((F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }))&\le 4\pi \lambda _3(X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )),\\ {\mathcal {L}}_-((F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}''_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }))&\le 4\pi \lambda _3(X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )). \end{aligned}$$

It follows that each of the $(F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({ e}'_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })$ and $(F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({ e}''_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })$ is the product of at most four elements of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ of ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2\pi \lambda _3(X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle ) )$, hence,

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-((F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({ e}'_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle }))&\le 8\pi \lambda _3(X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )),\\ {\mathcal {L}}_-((F_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })_*({ e}''_{\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle })&)\le 8\pi \lambda _3(X(\langle e_0',e_0''\rangle )). \end{aligned}$$

It remains to take into account that for a subgroup N of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ the equation $(F_N)_*( e_N)=F_*({e})$ holds for each ${e}\in \mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(N)$, and $\lambda _j(X(N))\le \lambda _j(X)$ for each natural number j.

3.3 Other generators. Intersection of free homotopy classes with a component of the zero set

Take any element $e\in \mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$ that is not in $\langle e',e''\rangle$. Then the monodromy $F_*(e)$ is either equal to the identity, or one of the pairs $(F_*(e),F_*({\textsf {e}}'))$ or $(F_*(e),F_*({\textsf {e}}''))$ consists of two elements of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ that are not powers of the same standard generator $a_j$, $j=1$ or 2. Interchanging if necessary ${\textsf {e}}'$ and ${\textsf {e}}''$, we may suppose this option holds for the pair $(F_*(e),F_*({\textsf {e}}'))$. Moreover, changing if necessary ${\textsf {e}}'$ to its inverse $({\textsf {e}}')^{-1}$, we may assume that $\mathsf{e}'$ is either an element of $\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$ or it is a product of two elements of $\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$. The quotient $X(\langle e,{\textsf {e}}'\rangle )={\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{\tilde{q}}}})^{-1}(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ is a Riemann surface whose fundamental group is a free group in two generators. Hence $X(\langle e,{\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ is either a torus with a hole or is equal to ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes.

We consider a diagram of coverings as follows. Let first $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )= {\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{\tilde{q}}}})^{-1}(\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ be the annulus with base point $q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }=\omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }({\tilde{q}})$, that admits a mapping $\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }: X(\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )\rightarrow X$ that represents ${\textsf {e}}'$. By Lemma 3 the connected component $L_ {\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ of $(\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', {\textsf {e}}''\rangle } )^{-1}(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', {\textsf {e}}''\rangle })$ that contains $q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }=\omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }({\tilde{q}})$ is a relatively closed curve in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ with limit points on both boundary components. The free homotopy class of the generator ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ of $\pi _1(X(\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle ),q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })$ intersects $L_ {\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$. The mapping $F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }=M_l \circ f\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ maps $L_ {\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ into $(-1,1)$, and $F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }(q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })= F\circ {\textsf {P}}({\tilde{q}})=q'$.

Next we consider the quotient $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}', e \rangle )= {\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{{\tilde{q}}}})^{-1}(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$ whose fundamental group is again a free group in two generators. The image $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })$ is a connected component of the preimage of $(-1,1)$ under $F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }$. Indeed, $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }$ is connected as image of a connected set under a continuous mapping, and $F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }))= F\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })= F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })\subset (-1,1)$. Moreover, since the mapping $\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }:X({\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })\rightarrow X({\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle })$ is a covering, its restriction $(\mathrm{Im}F\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })^{-1}(0)\rightarrow (\mathrm{Im}F\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle })^{-1}(0)$ is a covering. Hence the image under $\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }$ of a connected component of $(\mathrm{Im}F\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })^{-1}(0)$ is open and closed in $(\mathrm{Im}F\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle })^{-1}(0)$. Hence, $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })$ is a connected component of the preimage of $(-1,1)$ under $F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }$. Put $q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }=\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })=\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }\circ \omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }({\tilde{q}})=\omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }({\tilde{q}})$. Note that $F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle })=F\circ \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle }(q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}', e\rangle })= F(q)=q'$.

The free homotopy class in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle )$ that is related to ${\textsf {e}}'$ intersects $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$. Indeed, consider any loop $\gamma '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle )$ with some base point $q'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$, that represents . There exists a loop ${\gamma }'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle }$ in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle )$ which represents such that $\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }({\gamma }'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })=\gamma '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$. Such a curve ${\gamma }'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle }$ can be obtained as follows. There is a loop $\gamma ''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$ with base point ${q}_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ that represents $({\textsf {e}}' )_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$, and a curve $\alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$, such that $\gamma '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ is homotopic with fixed endpoint to $(\alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle })^{-1}\, \gamma ''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\, \alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$. Consider the lift ${\tilde{\gamma }}''$ of $\gamma ''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ to ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point ${\tilde{q}}$, and the lift ${\tilde{\alpha }}'$ of $\alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ with initial point ${\tilde{q}}$. The initial point of $\gamma ''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ equals $\sigma ({\tilde{q}})$ for the covering transformation $\sigma = (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}({\textsf {e}}' )= (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}({\textsf {e}}' _0)$. (See Eq. (6).) The initial point of the curve $\sigma (({\tilde{\alpha }}')^{-1}) {\tilde{\gamma }}''{\tilde{\alpha }}'$ is obtained from its terminating point by applying the covering transformation $\sigma$. Hence, $\omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }(\sigma (({\tilde{\alpha }}')^{-1}) {\tilde{\gamma }}''{\tilde{\alpha }}')$ is a closed curve in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle )$ that represents and projects to $(\alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle })^{-1}\, \gamma ''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\, \alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ under $\omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$. Since $\gamma '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ is homotopic to $(\alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })^{-1}\, \gamma ''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\, \alpha '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ with fixed base point, it also has a lift to $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ which represents .

Since intersects $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle }$, the loop ${\gamma }'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle }$ has an intersection point $p'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}' \rangle }$ with $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$. The point $p'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }= \omega _{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }^{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }(p'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle } )$ is contained in $\gamma '_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ and in $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$. We proved that the free homotopy class in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle )$ intersects $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$.

3.4 A system of generators associated to a standard bouquet of circles

We claim that the system of generators $\;{\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }, \;\; e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\;$ of $\;\pi _1(X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle ),q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle })$ is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$. If ${\textsf {e}}'\in {\mathcal {E}}$ the claim can be obtained as in paragraph 3.2. Suppose ${\textsf {e}}'=e'e''$ for $e', e''\in {\mathcal {E}}$. Consider the system ${\mathcal {E}}'$ of generators of $\pi _1(X,q)$ that is obtained from ${\mathcal {E}}$ by replacing $e'$ by $e'e''$. If $e'$ and $e''$ correspond to a handle of X, then ${\mathcal {E}}'$ is also associated to a standard bouquet of circles for X, see Fig. 4a for the case when $e'$ is represented by an $\alpha$-curve and $e''$ is represented by a $\beta$-curve. The situation when $e'$ is represented by a $\beta$-curve and $e''$ is represented by an $\alpha$-curve is similar. The claim is obtained as in paragraph 3.2.

Suppose one of the pairs $(e,e')$ or $(e,e'')$ corresponds to a handle of X. We assume that e corresponds to an $\alpha$-curve and $e'$ corresponds to a $\beta$-curve of a handle of X (see Fig. 4b). The remaining cases are treated similarly, maybe, after replacing $e'e''$ by $e''e'$ (see paragraph 3.2). With our assumption ${\mathcal {E}}'$ is associated to a bouquet of circles that is a deformation retract for X, but it is not a standard bouquet of circles. Nevertheless, the pair $(e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }, {\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle })$ with ${\textsf {e}}'=e'e''$ is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$. This can be seen as before. Consider the bouquet of circles corresponding to ${\mathcal {E}}'$ and take its union with a disc D around q. Lift this set to ${{\tilde{X}}}$. We obtain the union of a collection of arcs in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with terminating point ${{\tilde{q}}}$, with a collection of discs in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ around ${{\tilde{q}}}$ and around the initial points of the arcs. Take the union of the arcs and the discs. The image in $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$ of this union under the projection $\omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ is the union of the two loops $(\gamma _{e})_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\cup (\gamma _{{\textsf {e}}'})_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$, the disc $D_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ and a set, that is contractible to $D_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$. Looking at the intersection of the two loops with a small circle contained in $D_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ and surrounding $q_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$, we see as before that $(\gamma _{e})_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\cup (\gamma _{{\textsf {e}'}})_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }$ is a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$. In this case $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$ is a torus with a hole.

In the remaining case no pair of generators among e, $e'$, and $e''$ corresponds to a handle. In this case again ${\mathcal {E}}'$ does not correspond to a standard bouquet of circles for X. But $\{e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle } , (e'e'')_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle }\}$ (maybe, after changing $e'e''$ to $e''e'$) corresponds to a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$. (See Fig. 4c for the case when walking along a small circle around q counterclockwise, we meet the incoming and outgoing rays of representatives of the three elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$ in the order $e,e',e''$. If the order is different the situation is similar, maybe, after replacing $e'e''$ by $e''e'$.) In this case $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e\rangle )$ is a planar domain.

3.5 End of the proof

Consider first the case when $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle )$ is a torus with a hole. Since intersects $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$, we see as in the proof when X itself is a torus with a hole, that the curve $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ cannot be contractible or contractible to the hole, and the intersection number must be different from zero. Then the intersection number with $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ of the free homotopy class of one of the choices $e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }^{\pm 1}$ or $({\textsf {e}}'e)_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$, denoted by ${\textsf {e}}'''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$, is not zero and has the same sign. By Lemma 4 each of the $(F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })$ and $(F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}'''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })$ is the product of at most two elements of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding

$$\begin{aligned} 2\pi \lambda _{{\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle },{\textsf {e}}'''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }}\le 2\pi \lambda _5(X), \end{aligned}$$

(18)

since ${\textsf {e}}'$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$ and ${\textsf {e}}'''$ is the product of at most three elements of ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$. The element e is the product of at most two different elements among the ${\textsf {e}}'$ and ${\textsf {e}}'''$ or their inverses. Hence, the monodromy $F_*(e)=(F _{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })_*(e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })$ is the product of at most four elements with ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding (18). Hence,

$$\begin{aligned} F_*(e)\le 8\pi \lambda _5(X). \end{aligned}$$

(19)

Fig. 4

Standard bouquets of circles

Consider now the case when $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle )$ equals ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes. Since ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ and $e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ correspond to a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle )$, the curves representing ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ surround counterclockwise one of the holes, denoted by ${\mathcal {C}}'$ , and the curves representing $e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ surround counterclockwise another hole, denoted by ${\mathcal {C}}''$. After applying a Möbius transformation we may assume that the remaining hole, denoted by ${\mathcal {C}}_{\infty }$, contains the point $\infty$. There are several possibilities for the behaviour of the curve $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$. Since intersects $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$, the curve $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ must have limit points on ${\mathcal {C}}'$. The first possibility is that $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ has limit points on $\partial {\mathcal {C}}'$ and $\partial {\mathcal {C}}''$, the second possibility is, $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ has limit points on ${\mathcal {C}}'$ and ${\mathcal {C}}_{\infty }$, the third possibility is, $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ has all limit points on ${\mathcal {C}}'$, and ${\mathcal {C}}''$ is contained in the bounded connected component of ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } ( L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }\cup {\mathcal {C}}')$.

In the first case the free homotopy classes and have positive intersection number with the suitably oriented curve $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$. In the second case the free homotopy classes and have positive intersection number with the suitably oriented curve $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$. In the third case the free homotopy classes of ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$, $({{\textsf {e}}'}^2 e)_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ and of their product intersect $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$. The first two cases were treated in paragraph 2 of this section. The statement concerning the third case is proved as follows.

Any curve that is contained in the complement of ${\mathcal {C}}'\cup L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ has either winding number zero around ${\mathcal {C}}'$ (as a curve in the complex plane ${\mathbb {C}}$), or its winding number around ${\mathcal {C}}'$ coincides with the winding number around ${\mathcal {C}}''$. On the other hand the representatives of the free homotopy class of ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ have winding number 1 around ${\mathcal {C}}'$ and winding number 0 around ${\mathcal {C}}''$. The representatives of the free homotopy class of $({{\textsf {e}}'}^2 e)_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ have winding number 2 around ${\mathcal {C}}'$, and winding number 1 around ${\mathcal {C}}''$. By the same argument the free homotopy class of the product of ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ and $({{\textsf {e}}'}^2 e)_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ intersects $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$.

We let ${\textsf {e}}'''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ be equal to $e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }^{-1}$ in the first case, equal to $({{\textsf {e}}'e})_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ in the second case, and equal to $({{\textsf {e}}'}^2 e)_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }$ in the third case.

By Lemma 4 each of the $(F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })$ and $(F_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}'''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })$ is the product of at most two elements of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},q')$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding

$$\begin{aligned} 2\pi \lambda _{{\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle },{\textsf {e}}'''_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle }}\le 2\pi \lambda _7(X). \end{aligned}$$

(20)

We used that ${\textsf {e}}'$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$, $e\in {\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$ and ${\textsf {e}}'''$ is the product of at most five elements of ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$. Since e is the product of at most two different elements among the $({\textsf {e}}')^{\pm 1}$ and $({\textsf {e}}''')^{\pm 1}$, the monodromy $F_*(e)=(F _{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })_*(e_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',e \rangle })$ is the product of at most four elements with ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding (20). Hence,

$$\begin{aligned} F_*(e)\le 8\pi \lambda _7(X). \end{aligned}$$

(21)

The proposition is proved. $\square$

4 ($\textsf {g},\textsf {m}$)-bundles over Riemann surfaces

We will consider bundles whose fibers are smooth surfaces or Riemann surfaces of type $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$.

Definition 2

(Smooth oriented $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$ fiber bundles.) Let X be a smooth oriented manifold of dimension k, let ${{\mathcal {X}}}$ be a smooth (oriented) manifold of dimension $k+2$ and ${{\mathcal {P}}} : {{\mathcal {X}}} \rightarrow X$ an orientation preserving smooth proper submersion such that for each point $x \in X$ the fiber ${{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1} (x)$ is a closed oriented surface of genus $\textsf {g}$. Let $\varvec{E}$ be a smooth submanifold of ${\mathcal {X}}$ that intersects each fiber ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x)$ along a set $E_x$ of $\textsf {m}$ distinguished points. Then the tuple ${{\mathfrak {F}}}_{\textsf {g},\textsf {m}} = ({\mathcal X} , {{\mathcal {P}}} , \varvec{E}, X)$ is called a smooth (oriented) fiber bundle over X with fiber a smooth closed oriented surface of genus $\textsf {g}$ with $\textsf {m}$ distinguished points (for short, a smooth oriented $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$-bundle).

If ${\textsf {m}}=0$ the set ${\varvec{E}}$ is the empty set and we will often denote the bundle by $({{\mathcal {X}}} , {{\mathcal {P}}} , X)$. If ${\textsf {m}}>0$ the mapping $x\rightarrow E_x$ locally defines $\textsf {m}$ smooth sections. $(\textsf {g},0)$-bundles will also be called genus $\textsf {g}$ fiber bundles. For $\textsf {g}=1$ and $\textsf {m}=0$ the bundle is also called an elliptic fiber bundle.

In the case when the base manifold is a Riemann surface, a holomorphic $(\textsf {g}$,$\textsf {m})$ fiber bundle over X is defined as follows.

Definition 3

Let X be a Riemann surface, let ${{\mathcal {X}}}$ be a complex surface, and ${{\mathcal {P}}}$ a holomorphic proper submersion from ${{\mathcal {X}}}$ onto X, such that each fiber ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x)$ is a closed Riemann surface of genus $\textsf {g}$. Suppose $\varvec{E}$ is a complex one-dimensional submanifold of ${\mathcal {X}}$ that intersects each fiber ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x)$ along a set $E_x$ of ${\textsf {m}}$ distinguished points. Then the tuple ${{\mathfrak {F}}}_{\textsf {g},\textsf {m}} = ({{\mathcal {X}}} , {{\mathcal {P}}}, \varvec{E}, X)$ is called a holomorphic $(\textsf {g}$,$\textsf {m})$ fiber bundle over X.

Notice that for ${\textsf {m}}>0$ the mapping $x\rightarrow E_x$ locally defines ${\textsf {m}}$ holomorphic sections.

Two smooth oriented (holomorphic, respectively) $(\textsf {g},\,\textsf {m})$ fiber bundles, ${{\mathfrak {F}}}^0 = ({{\mathcal {X}}}^0 , {{\mathcal {P}}}^0, \varvec{E}^0, X)$ and ${{\mathfrak {F}}}^1 = ({{\mathcal {X}}}^1 , {\mathcal P}^1 ,\varvec{E}^1, X)$, are called smoothly isomorphic (holomorphically isomorphic, respectively,) if there are smooth (holomorphic, respectively) homeomorphisms $\varPhi : {\mathcal {X}}^0\rightarrow {\mathcal {X}}^1$ and $\phi :X^0\rightarrow X^1$ such that for each $x \in X^0$ the mapping $\varPhi$ maps the fiber $({\mathcal {P}}^0 )^{-1}(x)$ onto the fiber $({\mathcal {P}}^1 )^{-1}(\phi (x))$ and the set of distinguished points in $({\mathcal {P}}^0 )^{-1}(x)$ to the set of distinguished points in $({\mathcal {P}}^1 )^{-1}(\phi (x))$. Holomorphically isomorphic bundles will be considered the same holomorphic bundles.

Two smooth (oriented) $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$ fiber bundles over the same oriented smooth base manifold X, ${{\mathfrak {F}}}^0 = ({{\mathcal {X}}}^0 , {{\mathcal {P}}}^0 ,\varvec{E}^0, X)$, and ${{\mathfrak {F}}}^1 = ({{\mathcal {X}}}^1 , {\mathcal P}^1 ,\varvec{E}^1, X)$, are called (free) isotopic if for an open interval I containing [0, 1] there is a smooth $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$ fiber bundle $({{\mathcal {Y}}} , {{\mathcal {P}}} , \varvec{E}, X \times I)$ over the base $X \times I$ (called an isotopy) with the following property. For each $t \in [0,1]$ we put ${{\mathcal {Y}}}^t = {{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1} (X \times \{t\})$ and $\varvec{E}^t= \varvec{E}\cap {{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1} (X \times \{t\})$. The bundle ${{\mathfrak {F}}}^0\,$ is equal to $\,\left( {{\mathcal {Y}}}^0 , {{\mathcal {P}}} \mid {{\mathcal {Y}}}^0 , \varvec{E}^0, X \times \{0\} \right) \,$, and the bundle $\,{{\mathfrak {F}}}^1\,$ is equal to $\,\bigl ( {{\mathcal {Y}}}^1 , {{\mathcal {P}}} \mid {\mathcal Y}^1 , \varvec{E}^1, X \times \{1\} \bigl )\,$.

Two smooth $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundles are smoothly isomorphic if and only if they are isotopic (see [20]).

Denote by S a reference surface of genus $\textsf {g}$ with a set $E\subset S$ of $\textsf {m}$ distinguished points. By Ehresmann’s Fibration Theorem each smooth $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$-bundle ${\mathfrak F}_{\textsf {g},\textsf {m}} = ({\mathcal X} , {{\mathcal {P}}} , \varvec{E}, X)$ with set of distinguished points $E_x {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\varvec{E}\cap {{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}(x)$ in the fiber over x is locally smoothly trivial, i.e. each point in X has a neighbourhood $U\subset X$ such that the restriction of the bundle to U is isomorphic to the trivial bundle $\big (U\times S, \mathrm{{pr}}_1, U\times E,U\big )$ with set $\{x\}\times E$ of distinguished points in the fiber $\{x\}\times S$ over x. Here $\mathrm{pr}_1: U\times S\rightarrow U$ is the projection onto the first factor.

The idea of the proof of Ehresmann’s Theorem is the following. Choose smooth coordinates on U by a mapping from a rectangular box to U. Consider smooth vector fields $v_j$ on U, which form a basis of the tangent space at each point of U. Take smooth vector fields $V_j$ on ${\mathcal P}^{-1} (U)$ that are tangent to $\varvec{E}$ at points of this set and are mapped to $v_j$ by the differential of ${{\mathcal {P}}}$. Such vector fields can easily be obtained locally. To obtain the globally defined vector fields $V_j$ on ${{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1} (U)$ one uses partitions of unity. The required diffeomorphism $\varphi _U$ is obtained by composing the flows of these vector fields (in any fixed order).

In this way a trivialization of the bundle can be obtained over any simply connected domain.

Let $q_0$ be a base point in X and $\gamma (t),\, t \in [0,1],$ a smooth curve in X with base point $q_0$ that represents an element e of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$. Let $\varphi ^t:{\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(q_0) \rightarrow {\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(\gamma (t)),\, t \in [0,1]$, $\varphi ^0=\text{ Id }$, be a smooth family of diffeomorphisms that map the set of distinguished points in ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(q_0)$ to the set of distinguishes points in ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(\gamma (t))$. To obtain such a family we may restrict the bundle to the closed curve given by $\gamma$ and lift the restriction to a bundle over the real axis ${\mathbb {R}}$. The family of diffeomorphisms may be obtained by considering Ehrenpreis’ vector field for the lifted bundle and take the flow of this vector field. The mapping $\varphi ^1$ obtained for $t=1$ is an orientation preserving self-homeomorphism of the fiber over $q_0$ that preserves the set of distinguished points. Its isotopy class depends only on the homotopy class of the curve and the isotopy class of the bundle. The isotopy class of its inverse $(\varphi ^1)^{-1}$ is called the monodromy of the bundle along e. Assign to each element $e\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ the monodromy of the bundle along e. We obtain a homomorphism from $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ to the group of isotopy classes of self-homeomorphisms of the fiber over $q_0$ that preserve the set of distinguished points. The modular group ${\mathrm{Mod}}(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$ is the group of isotopy classes of self-homeomorphisms of a reference Riemann surface of genus $\textsf {g}$ that map a reference set of $\textsf {m}$ distinguished points to itself.

The following theorem holds (see e.g. [8, 20]).

Theorem G

Let X be a connected finite open smooth oriented surface. The set of isotopy classes of smooth oriented $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$ fiber bundles over X is in one-to-one correspondence to the set of conjugacy classes of homomorphisms from the fundamental group $\pi _1 (X,q_0)$ into the modular group ${\mathrm{Mod}}(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$.

Let $2{\textsf {g}}-2 + {\textsf {m}}>0$. A holomorphic $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundle is called locally holomorphically trivial if it is locally holomorphically isomorphic to the trivial $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundle. All fibers of a locally holomorphically trivial $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundle ${{\mathfrak {F}}}=({{\mathcal {X}}}, {{\mathcal {P}}}, {\varvec{E}}, {X})$ are conformally equivalent to each other. For a locally trivial holomorphic $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundle there exists a finite unramified covering $\hat{\textsf {P}} :{\hat{X}}\rightarrow X$ and a lift $\hat{{\mathfrak {F}}}=(\hat{{\mathcal {X}}}, \hat{{\mathcal {P}}}, \hat{\varvec{E}}, {\hat{X}})$ of ${\mathfrak {F}}$ to ${{\hat{X}}}$ such that $\hat{{\mathfrak {F}}}$ is holomorphically isomorphic to the trivial bundle. This can be seen as follows. Consider the lift $\tilde{{\mathfrak {F}}}$ of the bundle ${\mathfrak {F}}$ to the universal covering ${\textsf {P}}:{{\tilde{X}}}\rightarrow X$ of X, i.e. $\tilde{{\mathfrak {F}}}=(\tilde{{\mathcal {X}}}, \tilde{{\mathcal {P}}}, \tilde{\varvec{E}}, {\tilde{X}})$, where the fiber $\tilde{{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({\tilde{x}})$ with distinguished points $\tilde{\varvec{E}}\cap \tilde{{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({\tilde{x}})$ is conformally equivalent to the fiber ${{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({x})$ with distinguished points ${\varvec{E}}\cap {{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({x})$ with $x={\textsf {P}} ({\tilde{x}})$. Let $\tilde{P}:\tilde{\mathcal {X}}\rightarrow \mathcal {X}$ be the respective fiber preserving projection. The bundle $\tilde{{\mathfrak {F}}}$ is locally holomorphically trivial. Since ${{\tilde{X}}}$ is simply connected, $\tilde{{\mathfrak {F}}}$ is holomorphically trivial on ${{\tilde{X}}}$, hence, there is a biholomorphic mapping $\varPhi : \tilde{{\mathcal {X}}}\rightarrow {\tilde{X}}\times S$ that maps $\tilde{{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({\tilde{x}})$ to $\{{\tilde{x}}\}\times S$ for each $\tilde{x}\in \tilde{X}$, and maps $\tilde{\varvec{E}}$ to $S\times E$. Here S is the fiber $\tilde{{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({\tilde{q}}_0)$ over a chosen point $\tilde{q_0}$ over the base point $q_0\in X$ and $E= \varvec{E}\cap {\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(\tilde{q}_0)$. The mapping $\varPhi ^{-1}$ provides a uniquely determined holomorphic family of conformal mappings $\varphi _{{\tilde{x}}}: S=\tilde{{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({\tilde{q}}_0) \rightarrow \tilde{{\mathcal {P}}}^{-1}({\tilde{x}})$, ${\tilde{x}}\in {\tilde{X}}$, that map the set of distinguished points in one fiber to the set of distinguished points in the other fiber, such that the total space ${{\mathcal {X}}}$ of the bundle ${\mathfrak {F}}$ is holomorphically equivalent to the quotient of $\{{\tilde{x}}\}\times S$ by the following equivalence relation $\sim$. Two points $(\tilde{x}_1,\zeta _1)$ and $(\tilde{x}_2,\zeta _2)$ in $\tilde{X}\times S$ are equivalent if ${ {\textsf {P}}}(\tilde{x}_1)={ {\textsf {P}}}(\tilde{x}_2)$ and $\varphi _{\tilde{x}_2}^{-1}(\zeta _2)= \varphi _{\tilde{x}_1}^{-1}(\zeta _1)$. Let $\tilde{P}^{-1}_{\tilde{x}_1}$ be the inverse of the restriction of $\tilde{P}$ to a neighbourhood of $\tilde{\mathcal {P}}^{-1}({\tilde{x}_1})$. If ${ {\textsf {P}}}(\tilde{x}_1)={ {\textsf {P}}}(\tilde{x}_2)$, the mapping $\tilde{P}\varphi _{\tilde{x}_2} \varphi _{\tilde{x}_1}^{-1} \tilde{\mathcal {P}}^{-1}_{\tilde{x}_1}$ is a holomorphic self-homeomorphism of the fiber $\mathcal {P}^{-1}(x_1)$. The set of such self-homeomorphims is finite.

Consider the set N of elements $e\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ for which $\tilde{P}\varphi _{(\mathrm{Is}^{\tilde{q}_0})^{-1}(e)(\tilde{q}_0)} \tilde{P}^{-1}_{\tilde{q}_0}$ is the identity. As before $(\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0})^{-1}$ is the isomorphism from the fundamental group to the group of covering transformations. The set N is a normal subgroup of the fundamental group. It is of finite index, since two cosets $e_1 \,N$ and $e_2\, N$ are equal if $\tilde{P}\varphi _{(\mathrm{Is}^{\tilde{q}_0})^{-1}(e_2e_1^{-1})(\tilde{q}_0)} \tilde{P}^{-1}_{\tilde{q}_0} = \text{ Id }$, and there are only finitely many distinct holomorphic self-homeomorphisms of ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}({q}_0)$. Hence, $\hat{X}{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\tilde{X}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{\tilde{q}_0})^{-1}(N)$ is a finite unramified covering of X and the lift of the bundle ${\mathfrak {F}}$ to ${\hat{X}}$ has the required property.

Vice versa, if for a holomorphic $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundle ${\mathfrak {F}}$ there exists a finite unramified covering $\hat{\textsf {P}}:{\hat{X}}\rightarrow X$, such that the lift $\hat{{\mathfrak {F}}}=(\hat{{\mathcal {X}}}, \hat{{\mathcal {P}}}, \hat{\varvec{E}}, {\hat{X}})$ of ${\mathfrak {F}}$ to ${{\hat{X}}}$ is holomorphically isomorphic to the trivial bundle, then ${\mathfrak {F}}$ is locally holomorphically trivial.

A smooth (holomorphic, respectively) bundle is called isotrivial, if it has a finite covering by the trivial bundle. If all monodromy mapping classes of a smooth bundle are periodic, then the bundle is isotopic (equivalently, smoothly isomorphic) to an isotrivial bundle. This can be seen by the same arguments as above.

We explain now the notion of irreducible smooth $(\textsf {g},\textsf {m})$-bundles. It is based on Thurston’s notion of irreducible surface homeomorphisms. Let S be a connected finite smooth oriented surface. It is either closed or homeomorphic to a surface with a finite number of punctures. We will assume from the beginning that S is either closed or punctured.

A finite non-empty set of mutually disjoint Jordan curves $\{ C_1 , \ldots , C_{\alpha }\}$ on a connected closed or punctured oriented surface S is called admissible if no $C_i$ is homotopic to a point in X, or to a puncture, or to a $C_j$ with $i \ne j$. Thurston calls an isotopy class ${\mathfrak {m}}$ of self-homeomorphisms of S (in other words, a mapping class on S) reducible if there is an admissible system of curves $\{ C_1 ,\ldots , C_{\alpha }\}$ on S such that some (and, hence, each) element in ${\mathfrak {m}}$ maps the system to an isotopic system. In this case we say that the system $\{ C_1 , \ldots , C_{\alpha }\}$ reduces ${\mathfrak {m}}$. A mapping class which is not reducible is called irreducible.

Let S be a closed or punctured surface with set E of distinguished points. We say that $\varphi$ is a self-homeomorphism of S with distinguished points E, if $\varphi$ is a self-homeomorphism of S that maps the set of distinguished points E to itself. Notice that each self-homeomorphism of the punctured surface $S{\setminus } E$ extends to a self-homeomorphism of the surface S with set of distinguished points E. We will sometimes identify self-homeomorphisms of $S{\setminus } E$ and self-homeomorphism of S with set E of distinguished points.

For a (connected oriented closed or punctured) surface S and a finite subset E of S a finite non-empty set of mutually disjoint Jordan curves $\{ C_1 , \ldots , C_{\alpha }\}$ in $S{\setminus } E$ is called admissible for S with set of distinguished points E if it is admissible for $S {\setminus } E$. An admissible system of curves for S with set of distinguished points E is said to reduce a mapping class ${\mathfrak {m}}$ on S with set of distinguished points E, if the induced mapping class on $S{\setminus } E$ is reduced by this system of curves.

Conjugacy classes of reducible mapping classes can be decomposed in some sense into irreducible components, and conjugacy classes of reducible mapping classes can be recovered from the irreducible components up to products of commuting Dehn twists. Conjugacy classes of irreducible mapping classes are classified and studied.

A Dehn twist about a simple closed curve $\gamma$ in an oriented surface S is a mapping that is isotopic to the following one. Take a tubular neighbourhood of $\gamma$ and parameterize it as a round annulus $A=\{ e^{-\varepsilon }< \vert z \vert < 1\}$ so that $\gamma$ corresponds to $|z|=e^{-\frac{\varepsilon }{2}}$. The mapping is an orientation preserving self-homeomorphism of S which is the identity outside A and is equal to the mapping $e^{-\varepsilon s +2\pi i t}\rightarrow e^{-\varepsilon s +2\pi i (t+s) }$ for $e^{-\varepsilon s +2\pi i t}\in A$, i.e. $s\in (0,1)$. Here $\varepsilon$ is a small positive number.

Thurston’s notion of reducible mapping classes takes over to families of mapping classes on a surface of type $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$, and therefore to $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundles. Namely, an admissible system of curves on a (connected oriented closed or punctured) surface S with set of $\textsf {m}$ distinguished points E is said to reduce a family of mapping classes ${\mathfrak {m}}_j \in {\mathfrak {M}}(S; \emptyset , E)$ if it reduces each ${\mathfrak {m}}_j$. Similarly, a $({\textsf {g}},{\textsf {m}})$-bundle with fiber S over the base point $q_0$ and set of distinguished points $E\subset S$ is called reducible if there is an admissible system of curves in the fiber over the base point that reduces all monodromy mapping classes simultaneously. Otherwise the bundle is called irreducible.

Reducible bundles can be decomposed into irreducible bundle components and the reducible bundle can be recovered from the irreducible bundle components up to commuting Dehn twists in the fiber over the base point.

Let X be a finite open connected Riemann surface. By a holomorphic (smooth, respectively) (0, n)-bundle with a section over X we mean a holomorphic (smooth, respectively) $(0,n+1)$-bundle $({\mathcal {X}},{\mathcal {P}}, \varvec{E}, X)$, such that the complex manifold (smooth manifold, respectively) $\varvec{E}\subset {\mathcal {X}}$ is the disjoint union of two complex manifolds (smooth manifolds, respectively) $\mathring{\varvec{E}}$ and $\varvec{s}$, where $\mathring{\varvec{E}}\subset {\mathcal {X}}$ intersects each fiber ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x)$ along a set $\mathring{E}_x$ of n points, and $\varvec{s}\subset {\mathcal {X}}$ intersects each fiber ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x)$ along a single point $s_x$. We will also say, that the mapping $x\rightarrow s_x,\, x\in X$, is a holomorphic (smooth, respectively) section of the (0, n)-bundle with set of distinguished points $\mathring{E}_x$ in the fiber over x.

A special $(0,n+1)$-bundle is a bundle over X of the form $(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1, \mathrm{pr}_1, \varvec{E}, X)$, where $\mathrm{pr}_1 : X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1 \rightarrow X$ is the projection onto the first factor, and the smooth submanifold $\varvec{E}$ of $X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ is equal to the disjoint union $\mathring{\varvec{E}}\cup \varvec{s}_{\infty }$ where $\varvec{s}_{\infty }$ intersects each fiber $\{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ along the point $\{x\}\times \{\infty \}$, and the set $\mathring{\varvec{E}}$ intersects each fiber along n points. A special $(0,n+1)$-bundle is, in particular, a (0, n)-bundle with a section.

Two smooth (0, n)-bundles with a section (in particular, two special $(0,n+1)$-bundles) are called isotopic if they are isotopic as $(0,n+1)$-bundles with an isotopy that joins the sections of the bundles. A holomorphic (smooth, respectively) (0, n)-bundle with a section is isotopic to a holomorphic (smooth, respectively) special $(0,n+1)$-bundle over X (see [20]).

Theorem 2 is a consequence of the following theorem on (0, 3)-bundles with a section.

Theorem 3

Over a connected Riemann surface of genus g with $m+1$ holes there are up to isotopy no more than $(15 \exp ( 6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)))^{6(2g+m)}$ irreducible holomorphic (0, 3)-bundles with a holomorphic section.

For a reducible (0, 4)-bundle the fiber of each irreducible bundle component is a thrice-punctured Riemann sphere. Hence each irreducible bundle component of a reducible (0, 4)-bundle is isotopic to an isotrivial bundle. For more details see [20].

Theorem 1 (with a weaker estimate) is a consequence of Theorem 3. Indeed, consider holomorphic (smooth, respectively) bundles whose fiber over each point $x\in X$ equals ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with set of distinguished points $\{-1,1,f(x),\infty \}$ for a function f which depends holomorphically (smoothly, respectively) on the points $x\in X$ and does not take the values $-1$ and 1. Then we are in the situation of Theorem 1. It is not hard to see that the mapping f is reducible, iff this (0, 4)-bundle is reducible (see also Lemma 7 of [20]).

The relation between Theorems 2 and  3 is given in Proposition 5 below.

A holomorphic (1, 1)-bundle ${\mathfrak {F}}=\big ({\mathcal {X}},{\mathcal {P}}, \varvec{s},X\big )$ is called a double branched covering of the special holomorphic (0, 4)-bundle $\;\big (X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1,\mathrm{pr}_1,\varvec{E} ,\,X\big )\;$ if there exists a holomorphic mapping $\;P:{\mathcal {X}}\rightarrow X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ that maps each fiber ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x)$ of the (1, 1)-bundle onto the fiber $\{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ of the (0, 4)-bundle over the same point x, such that the restriction ${{P}}: {\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x) \rightarrow \{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ is a holomorphic double branched covering with branch locus being the set $\{x\}\times (\mathring{E}_x\cup \{\infty \})=\varvec{E}\cap (\{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1)$ of distinguished points in the fiber $\{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$, and P maps the distinguished point $s_x$ in the fiber ${\mathcal {P}}^{-1}(x)$ over x to the point $\{x\}\times \{\infty \}$ in $\{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$. We will also denote $(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1 , \mathrm{pr}_1 ,\varvec{E}, X)$ by ${{P}}(({\mathcal {X}},{\mathcal {P}},\varvec{s},X))$, and call the bundle $({\mathcal {X}},{\mathcal {P}},\varvec{s}, X)$ a lift of $(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1, \mathrm{pr}_1 ,\varvec{E} ,X)$. Let the fiber of the (1, 1)-bundle over the base point $q_0\in X$ be Y with distinguished point s, and let the fiber of the (0, 4)-bundle over $q_0$ be ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with distinguished points $\mathring{E}\cup \{\infty \}$ for a set $\mathring{E}\subset C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Then the monodromy mapping class ${\mathfrak {m}}_1\in {\mathfrak {M}}({\mathbb {P}}^1;\infty ,\mathring{E})$ of the (0, 4)-bundle along any generator of the fundamental group of X is the projection of the monodromy mapping class ${\mathfrak {m}}\in {\mathfrak {M}}(Y;s,\emptyset )$ of the (1, 1)-bundle along the same generator. This means that there are representing homeomorphisms $\varphi \in {\mathfrak {m}}$ and $\varphi _1\in {\mathfrak {m}}_1$ such that $\varphi _1({ P}(\zeta ))= {P}(\varphi (\zeta )),\, \zeta \in Y$. We will also say that ${\mathfrak {m}}$ is a lift of ${\mathfrak {m}}_1$. The lifts of a mapping class ${\mathfrak {m}}_1\in {\mathfrak {M}}({\mathbb {P}}^1;\infty ,\mathring{E})$ differ by the involution of Y, that interchanges the sheets of the double branched covering. Hence, each class ${\mathfrak {m}}_1\in {\mathfrak {M}}({\mathbb {P}}^1;\infty ,\mathring{E})$ has exactly two lifts.

Proposition 5

Let X be a Riemann surface of genus g with ${ m}+1\ge 1$ holes with base point $q_0$ and curves $\gamma _j$ representing a set of generators $e_j\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$.

• (1) Each holomorphic (1, 1)-bundle over X is holomorphically isomorphic to the double branched covering of a special holomorphic (0, 4)-bundle over X.

• (2) Vice versa, for each special holomorphic (0, 4)-bundle over X and each collection ${\mathfrak {m}}^j$ of lifts of the $2{ g} +{ m}$ monodromy mapping classes ${\mathfrak {m}}_1^j$ of the bundle along the $\gamma _j$ there exists a double branched covering by a holomorphic (1, 1)-bundle with collection of monodromy mapping classes equal to the ${\mathfrak {m}}^j$. Each special holomorphic (0, 4)-bundle has exactly $2^{2g+m}$ non-isotopic holomorphic lifts.

• (3) A lift of a special (0, 4)-bundle is reducible if and only if the special (0, 4)-bundle is reducible.

The proof of the proposition uses the fact that a holomorphic (1, 1)-bundle over X is holomorphically isomorphic to a holomorphic bundle whose fiber over each point x is a quotient ${\mathbb {C}}\diagup \varLambda _x$ of the complex plane by a lattice $\varLambda _x$ with distinguished point $0\diagup \varLambda _x$. The lattices depend holomorphically on the point x. To represent the fibers as branched coverings depending holomorphically on the points in X we use embeddings of punctured tori into ${\mathbb {C}}^2$ by suitable versions of the Weierstraß $\wp$-function. For a detailed proof of Proposition 5 see [20].

Preparation of the proof of Theorem 3. The proof will be given in terms of braids. Let $C_n({\mathbb {C}})=\{(z_1,\ldots ,z_n)\in {\mathbb {C}}^n: z_j\ne z_k \;\text{ for }\; j\ne k\}$ be the n-dimensional configuration space. The symmetrized configuration space is its quotient $C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$ by the diagonal action of the symmetric group ${\mathcal {S}}_n$. We write points of $C_n({\mathbb {C}})$ as ordered n-tuples $(z_1,\ldots ,z_n)$ of points in ${\mathbb {C}}$, and points of $C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$ as unordered tuples $\{z_1,\ldots ,z_n\}$ of points in ${\mathbb {C}}$. We regard geometric braids on n strands with base point $E_n$ as loops in the symmetrized configuration space $C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$ with base point $E_n$, and braids on n strands (n-braids for short) with base point $E_n\in C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$ as homotopy classes of loops with base point $E_n$ in $C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$, equivalently, as elements of the fundamental group $\pi _1(C_n ({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n, E_n)$ of the symmetrized configuration space with base point $E_n$.

Each smooth mapping $\;\;F:X \rightarrow C_n ({{\mathbb {C}}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n\;\;$ defines a smooth special $\;(0,n+1)$-bundle $\;\;\;(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1, \mathrm{pr}_1, \varvec{E},X),$ where $\varvec{E}\cap (\{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1)=\{x\}\times ( F(x) \cup \{\infty \})$. Vice versa, for each smooth special $(0,n+1)$-bundle $(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1, \mathrm{pr}_1, \varvec{E},X)$ the mapping that assigns to each point $x \in X$ the set of finite distinguished points in the fiber over x defines a smooth mapping $F:X \rightarrow C_n ({{\mathbb {C}}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n$. The mapping F is holomorphic iff the bundle is holomorphic. It is called irreducible iff the bundle is irreducible. Choose a base point $q_0\in X$. The restriction of the mapping F to each loop with base point $q_0$ defines a geometric braid with base point $F(q_0)$. The braid represented by it is called the monodromy of the mapping F along the element of the fundamental group represented by the loop.

The monodromy mapping classes of a special $(0,n+1)$-bundle are isotopy classes of self-homeomorphisms of the fiber ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ over the base point $q_0$ which map the set of finite distinguished points $E_n=F(q_0)$ in this fiber onto itself, and fix $\infty$. Two smooth mappings $F_1$ and $F_2$ from X to $C_n ({{\mathbb {C}}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n$, that have equal value $E_n\in C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$ at the base point $q_0$, define special $(0,n+1)$-bundles , that are isotopic with an isotopy that fixes the fiber over $q_0$ and the set of distinguished points in this fiber, iff their restrictions to each curve in X with base point $q_0$ define braids that differ by an element of the center ${\mathcal {Z}}_n$ of the braid group ${\mathcal {B}}_n$ on n strands (in other words, by a power of a full twist). Indeed, the braid group on n strands modulo its center ${\mathcal {B}}_n\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_n$ is isomorphic to the group of mapping classes of ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ that fix $\infty$ and map $E_n$ to itself.

Let $\sigma _j,\,j=1,2$ be the generators of $\mathcal {B}_3$, and $\varDelta _3=\sigma _1 \sigma _2 \sigma _1$. Note that for the group $\mathcal {PB}_3$ of pure braids on three strands the quotient $\mathcal {PB}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ is isomorphic to the fundamental group of ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. The isomorphism maps the generators $\sigma _j^2\diagup \langle \varDelta _3^2 \rangle , \, j=1,2$, of $\mathcal {PB}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ to the standard generators $a_j,\, j=1,2$, of the fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$. Here $\langle \varDelta _3^2 \rangle$ denotes the group generated by $\varDelta _3^2$ which is equal to the center ${\mathcal {Z}}_3$.

The proof of Theorem 3 will go now along the same lines as the proof of Theorem 1 with some modifications. Lemma H, Lemmas 5 and 6, and Theorem I below are given in terms of braids rather than in terms of elements of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$.

The following lemma and the following theorem were proved in [17].

Lemma H

Any braid $b\in {\mathcal {B}}_3$ which is not a power of $\varDelta _3$ can be written in a unique way in the form

$$\begin{aligned} \sigma _j^k \, b_1 \, \varDelta _3^{\ell }\, \end{aligned}$$

(22)

where $j=1$ or $j=2$, $k\ne 0$ is an integer, $\ell$ is a (not necessarily even) integer, and $b_1$ is a word in $\sigma _1^2$ and $\sigma _2^2$ in reduced form. If $b_1$ is not the identity, then the first term of $b_1$ is a non-zero even power of $\sigma _2$ if $j=1$, and $b_1$ is a non-zero even power of $\sigma _1$ if $j=2$.

For an integer $j\ne 0$ we put $q(j)=j$ if j is even, and for odd j we denote by q(j) the even integer neighbour of j that is closest to zero. In other words, $q(j)=j$ if $j\ne 0$ is even, and for each odd integer j,  $q(j)= j -{\text{ sgn }}(j)$, where ${\text{ sgn }}(j)$ for a non-zero integral number j equals 1 if j is positive, and $-1$ if j is negative. For a braid in form (22) we put $\vartheta (b) {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\sigma _j^{q(k)} \, b_1$. If b is a power of $\varDelta _3$ we put $\vartheta (b) {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\mathrm{Id}$.

Let $C_n({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$ be the totally real subspace of $C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$. It is defined in the same way as $C_n({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$ by replacing ${\mathbb {C}}$ by ${\mathbb {R}}$. Take a base point $E_n \in C_n({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_n$. The fundamental group $\;\pi _1(\,C_n ({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {\mathcal S}_n,\; E_n\,)\;$ with base point is isomorphic to the relative fundamental group $\; \pi _1(\,C_n ({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n,\; C_n (\mathbb {R}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n \,).$ The elements of the latter group are homotopy classes of arcs in $\,C_n ({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n\,$ with endpoints in the totally real subspace $\,C_n ({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n\,$ of the symmetrized configuration space.

Let $b \in {\mathcal {B}}_n$ be a braid. Denote by $b_{tr}$ the element of the relative fundamental group $\pi _1(\,C_n ({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n,\; C_n ({\mathbb {R}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n\, )$ that corresponds to b under the mentioned group isomorphism. For a rectangle R in the plane with sides parallel to the axes we let $f:R \rightarrow \,C_n ({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n\,$ be a mapping which admits a continuous extension to the closure ${\bar{R}}$ (denoted again by f) which maps the (open) horizontal sides into $\,C_n ({\mathbb {R}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n\,$. We say that the mapping represents $b_{tr}$ if for each maximal vertical line segment contained in R (i.e. R intersected with a vertical line in ${\mathbb {C}}$) the restriction of f to the closure of the line segment represents $b_{tr}$.

The extremal length of a 3-braid with totally real horizontal boundary values is defined as

$$\begin{aligned} \varLambda _{tr}(b)&= \inf \{\lambda (R): R\, \text{ a } \text{ rectangle } \text{ which } \text{ admits } \text{ a } \text{ holomorphic } \text{ map } \text{ to } \\&\quad C_n ({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {{\mathcal {S}}}_n \, \text{ that } \text{ represents }\; b_{tr}\}. \end{aligned}$$

(see [17].) The following theorem holds (see [17]).

Theorem I

Let $b \in {\mathcal {B}}_3$ be a (not necessarily pure) braid which is not a power of $\varDelta _3$, and let w be the reduced word representing the image of $\vartheta (b)$ in $\mathcal {PB}_3 \diagup \langle \varDelta _3^2\rangle$. Then

$$\begin{aligned} \varLambda _{tr}(b) \ge \frac{1}{2\pi }\cdot {\mathcal {L}}_-(w) , \end{aligned}$$

except in the case when $b=\sigma _j^{k}\,\varDelta _3^{\ell }$, where $j=1$ or $j=2$, $k\ne 0$ is an integer number, and $\ell$ is an arbitrary integer. In this case $\varLambda _{tr}(b)=0$.

The set

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {H}} {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}&\{ \{z_1,z_2,z_3\} \in C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3: \text{ the } \text{ three } \text{ points }\; z_1,z_2, z_3 \nonumber \\&\text{ are } \text{ contained } \text{ in } \text{ a } \text{ real } \text{ line } \text{ in } \text{ the } \text{ complex } \text{ plane }\} \end{aligned}$$

(23)

is a smooth real hypersurface of $C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Indeed, let $\{z_1^0,z_2^0,z_3^0\}$ be a point of the symmetrized configuration space. Introduce coordinates near this point by lifting a neighbourhood of the point to $C_3({\mathbb {C}})$ with coordinates $(z_1,z_2,z_3)$. Since the linear map $M(z){\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \frac{z-z_1}{z_3-z_1},\, z \in {\mathbb {C}},$ maps the points $z_1$ and $z_3$ to the real axis, the three points $z_1, \, z_2,$ and $z_3$ lie on a real line in the complex plane iff the imaginary part of $z'_2{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}M(z_2)= \frac{z_2-z_1}{z_3-z_1}$ vanishes. The equation $\text{ Im }\frac{z_2-z_1}{z_3-z_1}=0$ in local coordinates $(z_1,z_2,z_3)$ defines a local piece of a smooth real hypersurface.

For each complex affine self-mapping M of the complex plane we consider the diagonal action $M\big ((z_1,z_2,z_3)\big )=\big (M(z_1),M(z_2),M(z_3)\big )$ on points $(z_1,z_2,z_3)\in C_3({\mathbb {C}})$, and the diagonal action $M\big (\{z_1,z_2,z_3\}\big )=\{M(z_1),M(z_2),M(z_3)\}$ on points $\{z_1,z_2,z_3\}\in C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$.

The following two lemmas replace Lemma 2 in the case of (0, 3)-bundles with a section.

Lemma 5

Let A be an annulus with an orientation of simple closed dividing curves. Suppose $F:A \rightarrow C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ is a holomorphic mapping whose image is not contained in ${\mathcal {H}}$. Suppose $L_A$ is a simple relatively closed curve in A with limit points on both boundary circles of A, and $F(L_A) \subset {\mathcal {H}}$. Moreover, for a point $q_A\in L_A$ the value $F(q_A)$ is in the totally real subspace $C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Let $e_A\in \pi _1(A,q_A)$ be the positively oriented generator of the fundamental group of A with base point $q_A$. If the braid $b{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}F_*(e_A) \in {\mathcal {B}}_3$ is different from $\sigma _j^k \, \varDelta _3^{2 \ell '}$ with j equal to 1 or 2, and $k\ne 0$ and $\ell '$ being integers, then

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (b)) \le 2\pi \lambda (A). \end{aligned}$$

(24)

Notice that the braids $\sigma _j^k \, \varDelta _3^{\ell }$ for odd $\ell$ are exceptional for Theorem I, but not exceptional for Lemma 5. The reason is that the braid in Lemma 5 is related to a mapping of an annulus, not merely to a mapping of a rectangle. For $t\in [0,\infty )$ we put $\log _+ t{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \log t&{} \; t \in [1,\infty ) \\ 0 &{} \; t \in [0,1)\;\;\;\; .\\ \end{array}\right. }$

Lemma 6

If the braid in Lemma  5 equals $b = \sigma _j^k \, \sigma _{j'}^{k'} \,\varDelta _3^{\ell }$ with j and $j'$ equal to 1 or to 2, $j'\ne j$, and k and $k'$ being non-zero integers, and $\ell$ an even integer, then

$$\begin{aligned} \log _+\left( 3\left[ \frac{|k|}{2}\right] \right) + \log _+\left( 3\left[ \frac{|k'|}{2}\right] \right) \le {\pi } \lambda (A). \end{aligned}$$

(25)

Here for a non-negative number x we denote by [x] the smallest integer not exceeding x.

Proof of Lemma 5

By the same argument as in the proof of Lemma  2 we may assume that the annulus A has smooth boundary, the mapping F extends continuously to the closure ${\overline{A}}$, and the curve $L_A$ is a smooth (connected) curve in ${\overline{A}}$ whose endpoints are on different boundary components of A. Perhaps after a diagonal action of a fixed Möbius transformation on each point of $C_3({\mathbb {C}}\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3)$, we may also assume that the value of F at the point $q_A \in L_A$ is equal to the unordered triple $\{-1,q',1\}\in C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ for a number $q' \in {\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. We restrict the mapping F to $A{\setminus } L_0$. Let ${{\tilde{R}}}$ be a lift of $A{\setminus } L_A$ to the infinite strip $\widetilde{{\overline{A}}}$ that covers ${\overline{A}}$. We consider ${{\tilde{R}}}$ as curvilinear rectangle with horizontal sides being the two different lifts of $L_A$ and vertical sides being the lifts of the two boundary circles cut at the endpoints of $L_A$.

Take a closed curve $\gamma _A:[0,1]\rightarrow A$ in A with base point $q_A\in L_A$, that intersects $L_A$ only at the base point and represents the element $e_A\in \pi _1(A,q_A)$. Let ${\tilde{\gamma }}_A$ be the lift of $\gamma _A$ to $\widetilde{{\overline{A}}}$ for which ${\tilde{\gamma }}_A((0,1))$ is contained in ${{\tilde{R}}}$, and let ${{\tilde{F}}}=({\tilde{F}}_1,{\tilde{F}}_2,{\tilde{F}}_3):{{{\tilde{R}}}} \rightarrow {\mathcal {C}}_3({\mathbb {C}})$ be a lift of F to a mapping from ${{{\tilde{R}}}}$ to the configuration space ${\mathcal {C}}_3({\mathbb {C}})$. The continuous extension of ${{\tilde{F}}}$ to $\overline{{{\tilde{R}}}}$ is also denoted by ${{\tilde{F}}}$. We may choose the lift so that the value of ${{\tilde{F}}}$ at the copy of $q_A$ on the lower horizontal side of ${{\tilde{R}}}$ equals $(-1,q',1)$. For each $z\in \overline{{{\tilde{R}}}}$ we consider the complex affine mapping ${\mathfrak {A}}_z(\zeta )=a(z)\zeta +b(z) {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} -1 + 2\frac{\zeta -{\tilde{F}}_1(z)}{{\tilde{F}}_3(z)-{\tilde{F}}_1(z)},\, \zeta \in {\mathbb {C}}$. Denote by ${\hat{F}}(z){\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}{\mathfrak {A}}_{z}({\tilde{F}}(z))={\mathfrak {A}}_{z} \big (({\tilde{F}}_1(z),{\tilde{F}}_2(z),{\tilde{F}}_3(z)\big ),\, z \in \overline{{\tilde{R}}},$ the result of applying ${\mathfrak {A}}_z$ to each of the three points of ${\tilde{F}}(z)$. The mapping ${\hat{F}}(z)=({\hat{F}}_1(z),{\hat{F}}_2(z),{\hat{F}}_3(z))=(-1,{\hat{F}}_2(z),1)$ is holomorphic on ${{\tilde{R}}}$. Let ${\tilde{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\{{\tilde{F}}_1,{\tilde{F}}_2,{\tilde{F}}_3\}$ ( ${\hat{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\{{\hat{F}}_1,{\hat{F}}_2,{\hat{F}}_3\}$, respectively) be the projection of ${\tilde{F}}$ (${\hat{F}}$, respectively) to a mapping from $\overline{{\tilde{R}}}$ to the symmetrized configuration space $C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {C}}_3$. Since $F(L_A)\subset {\mathcal {H}}$ the mapping ${\hat{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}$ takes the horizontal sides of ${{\tilde{R}}}$ to the totally real subspace $C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ of the symmetrized configuration space. Moreover, ${\hat{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}$ maps the copy of $q_A$ on the lower side of ${{\tilde{R}}}$ to $\{-1,q',1\}$. Recall that also ${\tilde{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}$ takes the value $\{-1,q',1\}$ at the copy of $q_A$ on the lower side of ${{\tilde{R}}}$.

The restrictions of ${\tilde{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}$ and of ${{\hat{F}}}_{\mathrm{sym}}$ to the curve ${\tilde{\gamma }}_A$ represent elements of the relative fundamental group $\pi _1(C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3,C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3)$. The represented elements of the relative fundamental group differ by a finite number of half-twists. Indeed, for each z, the lifts to $C_3({\mathbb {C}})$, ${{\tilde{F}}}(z)$ and ${{\hat{F}}}(z)$, differ by a complex affine mapping. Hence, ${{\hat{F}}}({\tilde{\gamma }}_A(t))=b(t)+a(t) {{\tilde{F}}}({\tilde{\gamma }}_A(t))$ for continuous functions a and b on [0, 1] with a nowhere vanishing, $b(0)=0$, $a(0)=1$, and b(1) and a(1) real valued. Then the function $b:[0,1]\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}$ is homotopic with endpoints in ${\mathbb {R}}$ to the function that is identically equal to zero. The mapping $a:[0,1]\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{0\}$ is homotopic with endpoints in ${\mathbb {R}}$ to $\frac{a}{|a|}$. Hence, the mappings ${\hat{F}}({\tilde{\gamma }}_A(t))$ and $\frac{a(t)}{|a|(t)}{\tilde{F}}({\tilde{\gamma }}_A(t))$ from [0, 1] to $C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ are homotopic with endpoints in $C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. The statements follows.

Let $\omega (z):A{\setminus } L_A\rightarrow R$ be the conformal mapping of the curvilinear rectangle onto the rectangle of the form $R=\{z=x+i y:x \in (0,1),\, y \in (0,{\textsf {a}})\}$, that maps the lower curvilinear side of $A{\setminus } L_0$ to the lower side of R. (Note that the number $\textsf {a}$ is uniquely defined by ${{\tilde{R}}}$.) For $i'\in {\mathbb {Z}}$ we put $\mathring{F}_{i'}(z) {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} e^{-i' \frac{\pi }{{\textsf {a}}}\omega (z)} {\hat{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}(z)$. Then, for some choice of $i'$ the restrictions ${\tilde{F}}_{\mathrm{sym}}\mid {\gamma }_A$ and $\mathring{F}_{i'}\mid {\gamma }_A$ represent the same element of $\pi _1(C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3,C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3))$, namely $b_{tr}$. We represented $b_{tr}$ by the holomorphic map $\mathring{F}_{i'}$ from the rectangle ${{\tilde{R}}}$ into $C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ that maps horizontal sides into $C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Hence,

$$\begin{aligned} \varLambda (b_{tr})\le \lambda ({{\tilde{R}}}) = \lambda (A{\setminus } L_A)\le \lambda (A). \end{aligned}$$

(26)

For $b\ne \sigma _j^k \, \varDelta _3^{\ell }$ with j equal to 1 or 2, and $k\ne 0$ and $\ell$ being integers, the statement of Lemma 5 follows from Theorem I in the same way as Lemma 2 follows from Theorem F. For $b=\sigma _j^k \, \varDelta _3^{\ell }$ with $k=0$ the statement is trivial since then $\vartheta (\mathrm{Id})=\mathrm{Id}$ and ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\mathrm{Id})=0$.

To obtain the statement in the remaining case $b = \sigma _j^k \, \varDelta _3^{2 \ell ' +1}$ with j equal to 1 or 2, and k and $\ell '$ being integers, we use Lemma 6. Notice that $\sigma _1\, \varDelta _3 = \varDelta _3 \, \sigma _2$ and $\sigma _2\, \varDelta _3 = \varDelta _3 \, \sigma _1$. Hence, $b^2 = \sigma _j^k\, \sigma _{j'}^k \,\varDelta _3^{4 \ell '+2}$ with $\sigma _j\,\ne \sigma _{j'}$. Let $\omega _2:A^2\rightarrow A$ be the two-fold unbranched covering of A by an annulus $A^2$. The equality $\lambda (A^2)=2 \lambda (A)$ holds. Let ${q}_{A^2}$ be a point in $\omega _2^{-1}(q_A)$, and let ${L}_{q_{A^2}}$ be the lift of $L_A$ to $A^2$ that contains ${q}_{A^2}$. Denote by ${\gamma }_{A^2}$ the loop $\omega _2^{-1}(\gamma _A)$ with base point $q_{A^2}$. Then ${F}\circ \omega _2 \mid {\gamma }_{A^2}$ represents $b^2$ and $(b^2)_{tr}$. Lemma 6 applied to $\sigma _j^k\, \sigma _{j'}^k \,\varDelta _3^{4 \ell '+2}$ gives the estimate $2\log _+(3[\frac{|k|}{2}]) \le \pi \lambda (A^2)=2\pi \lambda (A)$. Since $\vartheta (b)=\sigma _j^{2[\frac{|k|}{2}]\text{ sgn }(k)}$, the inequality (24) follows. The lemma is proved. $\square$

Proof of Lemma 6

By [17], Lemma 1 and Proposition 6, statement 2,

$$\begin{aligned} \varLambda _{tr}( \sigma _j^k \, \sigma _{j'}^{k'} \,\varDelta _3^{\ell }) \ge \frac{1}{\pi } \left( \log _+\left( 3\left[ \frac{|k|}{2}\right] \right) + \log _+\left( 3\left[ \frac{|k'|}{2}\right] \right) \right) . \end{aligned}$$

(27)

Since by (26) the inequality $\varLambda _{tr}(\sigma _j^k \, \sigma _{j'}^{k'} \,\varDelta _3^{\ell }) \le \lambda (A)$ holds, the lemma is proved. $\square$

We want to emphasize that periodic braids are not non-zero powers of a $\sigma _j$, so the lemma is true also for periodic braids. For each periodic braid b of the form $\sigma _1 \sigma _2= \sigma _1 ^{-1} \, \varDelta _3$, $(\sigma _1 \sigma _2)^2=\sigma _1 \, \varDelta _3$, $\sigma _2 \sigma _1= \sigma _2 ^{-1} \, \varDelta _3$, $(\sigma _2 \sigma _1)^2=\sigma _2 \, \varDelta _3$, and $\varDelta _3$ the ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (b))$ vanishes. However, for instance for the conjugate $\sigma _1^{-2k} \varDelta _3 \sigma _1^{2k}= \sigma _1^{-2k} \sigma _2^{2k} \varDelta _3$ of $\varDelta _3$ we have ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\sigma _1^{-2k} \varDelta _3 \sigma _1^{2k}))= 2 \log (3|k|)$. Another example, for the conjugate $\sigma _2^{-2k}\, \sigma _1 \sigma _2\, \sigma _2^{2k}$ of $\sigma _1 \sigma _2$ we have

$$\begin{aligned} \sigma _2^{-2k}\, \sigma _1 \sigma _2\, \sigma _2^{2k} = \sigma _2^{-2k-1}\, \varDelta _3\, \sigma _2^{2k} = \sigma _2^{-2k-1}\, \sigma _1^{2k} \,\varDelta _3. \end{aligned}$$

and ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\sigma _2^{-2k}\, \sigma _1 \sigma _2\, \sigma _2^{2k}))$ equals $2 \log (3|k|)$.

Notice that the lemmas and Theorem I descend to statements on elements of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ rather than on braids. For an element $\textsf {b}$ of the quotient ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ we put $\vartheta (\textsf {b})= \vartheta (b)$ for any representative $b \in {\mathcal {B}}_3$ of $\textsf {b}$.

Lemma 7 below is an analog of Lemma 4. It follows from Lemma 5 in the same way as Lemma 4 follows from Lemma 2.

Lemma 7

Let X be a connected finite open Riemann surface, and $F:X \rightarrow C_3({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ be a holomorphic map that is transverse to the hypersurface ${\mathcal {H}}$ in $C_3({\mathbb {C}}) \diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Suppose $L_0$ is a simple relatively closed curve in X such that $F(L_0)$ is contained in ${\mathcal {H}}$, and for a point $q \in L_0$ the point F(q) is contained in the totally real space $C_3({\mathbb {R}}) \diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Let $e^{(1)}$ and $e^{(2)}$ be primitive elements of $\pi _1(X,q)$. Suppose that for $e=e^{(1)}$, $e=e^{(2)}$, and $e=e^{(1)}e^{(2)}$ the free homotopy class ${{\widehat{e}}}$ intersects $L_0$. Then either the two monodromies of F modulo the center $F_*(e^{(j)})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3,\, j=1,2,\,$ are powers of the same element $\sigma _j\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, or each of them is the product of at most two elements $\textsf {b}_1$ and $\textsf {b}_2$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}_j)) \le 2\pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}},\, j=1,2, \end{aligned}$$

(28)

where

Proof

Suppose for an element $e\in \pi _1(X,q)$ the free homotopy class ${{\widehat{e}}}$ intersects $L_0$. By an analog of Lemma 3 there exists an annulus A, a point $q_A\in A$, and a holomorphic map $\omega _A:(A,q_A)\rightarrow (X,q)$ that represents e. Moreover, the connected component of $(\omega _A)^{-1}(L_0)$ that contains $q_A$ has limit points on both boundary components of A. Put $F_A=F\circ \omega _A$. By the conditions of Lemma 7$F_A(L_A)=F(L_0)\subset {\mathcal {H}}$ and $F_A(q_A)\in C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Let $e_A$ be the generator of $\pi _1(A,q_A)$ for which $\omega _A(e_A)=e$. The mapping $F_A:A\rightarrow C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$, the point $q_A$ and the curve $L_A$ satisfy the conditions of Lemma 5. Notice that the equality $(F_A)_*(e_A)= F_*(e)$ holds. Hence, if $F_*(e)$ is not a power of a $\sigma _j$ then inequality (24) holds for $F_*(e)$.

Suppose the two monodromies modulo center $F_*(e^{(j)})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3,\, j=1,2,\,$ are not (trivial or non-trivial) powers of the same element $\sigma _j \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$. Then at most two of the elements, $F_*(e^{(1)})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, $F_*(e^{(2)})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, and $F_*(e^{(1)}e^{(2)})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3=F_*(e^{(1)})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3\cdot F_*(e^{(2)})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, are powers of an element of the form $\sigma _j\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$.

If the monodromies modulo center along two elements among $e^{(1)}$, $e^{(2)}$, and $e^{(1)}e^{(2)}$ are not (zero or non-zero) powers of a $\sigma _j\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ then by Lemma 5 for each of these two monodromies modulo center inequality (28) holds, and the third monodromy modulo center is the product of two elements of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ for which inequality (28) holds. If the monodromies modulo center along two elements among $e^{(1)}$, $e^{(2)}$, and $e^{(1)}e^{(2)}$ have the form $\sigma _{j}^{k} \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ and $\sigma _{j'}^{k'}\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, then the $\sigma _j$ and the $\sigma _{j'}$ are different and k and $k'$ are non-zero. The third monodromy modulo center has the form $\sigma _{j }^{\pm k} \sigma _{j'}^{\pm k'} \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ (or the order of the two factors interchanged). Lemma 6 gives the inequality $\log _+(3\max ([\frac{|k|}{2}]) + \log _+(3\max ([\frac{|k'|}{2}])\le \pi \lambda _{e^{(1)},e^{(2)}}$. Since ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\sigma _{j}^{\pm k}))= \log (3[\frac{k}{2}])$ and ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\sigma _{j'}^{\pm k'})) =\log (3[\frac{k'}{2}])$, inequality (28) follows for the other two monodromies. The lemma is proved. $\square$

The following lemma holds.

Lemma 8

Let X be a connected finite open Riemann surface, and $F:X\rightarrow C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ a smooth mapping. Suppose for a base point $q_1$ of X each element of $\pi _1(X,q_1)$ can be represented by a curve with base point $q_1$ whose image under F avoids ${\mathcal {H}}$. Then all monodromies of F are powers of the same periodic braid of period 3.

Proof

Take the monodromy of F along any curve with base point $q_1$. It has a power that is a pure 3-braid b, and a representative of b avoids ${\mathcal {H}}$. Then for some integer l the first and the last strand of $b \,\varDelta _3^{2l}$ are fixed, and a representative of $b \,\varDelta _3^{2l}$ avoids ${\mathcal {H}}$. Hence, $b\,\varDelta _3^{2l}=\mathrm{Id}$ and $b=\varDelta _3^{-2l}$. We saw that the monodromy of F along each element $e\in \pi _1(X,q_1)$ is a periodic braid.

If a representative $f:[0,1]\rightarrow C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3,\, f(0)=f(1),$ of a 3-braid b avoids ${\mathcal {H}}$, then the associated permutation $\tau _3(b)$ cannot be a transposition. Indeed, assume the contrary. Then there is a lift ${{\tilde{f}}}$ of f to $C_3({\mathbb {C}})$, for which $({\tilde{f}}_1(1),{\tilde{f}}_2(1),{\tilde{f}}_3(1))=({\tilde{f}}_3(0),{\tilde{f}}_2(0),{\tilde{f}}_1(0))$. Let $L_t$ be the line in ${\mathbb {C}}$ that contains ${\tilde{f}}_1(t)$ and ${\tilde{f}}_3(t)$, and is oriented so that running along $L_t$ in positive direction we meet first ${\tilde{f}}_1(t)$ and then ${\tilde{f}}_3(t)$. The point $f_2(0)$ is not on $L_0$. Assume without loss of generality, that it is on the left of $L_0$ with the chosen orientation of $L_0$. Since for each $t\in [0,1]$ the three points ${\tilde{f}}_1(t),\,{\tilde{f}}_2(t)$ and ${\tilde{f}}_3(t)$ in ${\mathbb {C}}$ are not on a real line, the point ${\tilde{f}}_2(t)$ is on the left of $L_t$ with the chosen orientation. But the unoriented lines $L_0$ and $L_1$ coincide, and their orientation is opposite. This implies ${\tilde{f}}_2(1)\ne {\tilde{f}}_2(0)$, which is a contradiction. We proved that all monodromies are periodic with period 3.

There is a smooth homotopy $F_s,\, s\in [0,1],$ of F, such that $F_0=F$, each $F_s$ is different from F only on a small neighbourhood of $q_1$, each $F_t$ avoids ${\mathcal {H}}$ on this neighbourhood of $q_1$, and $F_1(q_1)$ is the set of vertices of an equilateral triangle with barycenter 0. Since F and $F_1$ are free homotopic, their monodromy homomorphisms are conjugate, and it is enough to prove the statement of the lemma for $F_1$.

For notational convenience we will keep the notation F for the new mapping and assume that $F(q_1)$ is the set of vertices of an equilateral triangle with barycenter 0. The monodromy $F_*(e)$ along each element $e\in \pi _1(X,q_1)$ is a periodic braid of period 3. Hence, $\tau _3(F_*(e))$ is a cyclic permutation. Consider the braid g with base point F(0) that corresponds to rotation by the angle $\frac{2\pi }{3}$, i.e. it is represented by the geometric braid $t\rightarrow e^{\frac{i2\pi t}{3}}F(0),\, t\in [0,1],$ that avoids ${\mathcal {H}}$. There exists an integer k such that $F_*(e)\, g^k$ is a pure braid that is represented by a mapping that avoids ${\mathcal {H}}$. Hence, $F_*(e)\, g^k$ represents $\varDelta _3^{2l}$ for some integer l. We proved that for each $e\in \pi _1(X,q_1)$ the monodromy $F_*(e)$ is represented by rotation of F(0) around the origin by the angle $\frac{2\pi j}{3}$ for some integer j. The Lemma is proved. $\square$

Let as before X be a finite open connected Riemann surface. The following proposition is the main ingredient of the proof of Theorem 3. Let as before ${\mathcal {E}}\subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ be the system of generators of the fundamental group with base point $q_0\in X$ that was chosen in Sect. 1.

Proposition 6

Let $(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1,\mathrm{pr}_1,\varvec{E},X)$ be an irreducible holomorphic special (0, 4)-bundle over a finite open Riemann surface X, that is not isotopic to a locally holomorphically trivial bundle. Let $F(x),\, x \in X,$ be the set of finite distinguished points in the fiber over x. Assume that F is transverse to ${\mathcal {H}}$. Then there exists a complex affine mapping M and a point $q\in X$ such that $M\circ F(q)$ is contained in $C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$, and for an arc $\alpha$ in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q and each element $e_j\in \mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }(\mathcal {E})$ the monodromy modulo center $(M\circ F)_*(e_j)\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ can be written as product of at most 6 elements $\textsf {b}_{j,k},\, k=1,2,3,4,5,6,$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}_{j,k})) \le 2\pi \lambda _{10}(X). \end{aligned}$$

(29)

If X is a torus with a hole the monodromy along each $e_j$ is the product of at most 4 elements with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}_{j,k})) \le 2\pi \lambda _3(X)$, and in case of a planar domain the monodromy along each $e_j$ is the product of at most 6 elements with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}_{j,k})) \le 2\pi \lambda _8(X)$.

Proof of Proposition 6

Since the bundle is not isotopic to a locally holomorphically trivial bundle, it is not possible that all monodromies are powers of the same periodic braid, and by Lemma 8 the set

$$\begin{aligned} L{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}&\{ z \in X: F(z) \in {\mathcal {H}}\} \end{aligned}$$

(30)

is not empty.

1. A torus with a hole. Let X be a torus with a hole and let ${\mathcal {E}}=\{e'_0 ,\,e''_0\}$ be a set of generators of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ that is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for X. There exists a connected component $L_0$ of L which is not contractible and not contractible to the hole. Indeed, otherwise there would be a base point $q_1$ and a curve $\alpha _{q_1}$ that joins $q_0$ with $q_1$, such that for both elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha _{q_1}}({\mathcal {E}})$ there would be representing loops with base point $q_1$ which do not meet L, and hence, by Lemma 8 the monodromies along both elements would be powers of a single periodic braid of period 3.

Hence, as in the proof of Proposition 3 there exists a component $L_0$ of L, which is a simple smooth relatively closed curve in X, such that the free homotopy class of one of the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$, say of $e'_0$, has positive intersection number with $L_0$. Put ${\textsf {e}}'_0 =e'_0$. Moreover, the intersection number with $L_0$ is positive for the free homotopy class of one of the elements ${e_0''}^{\pm 1}$ or $e'_0 e''_0$. Denote this element by ${\textsf {e}}_0''$. (Since we may also put ${\textsf {e}}_0''=e''_0 e'_0$ if the free homotopy class of $e'_0 e''_0$ intersects $L_0$.) Put ${\mathcal {E}}_2'= \{{\textsf {e}}_0', {\textsf {e}}_0''\}$. The free homotopy class of each element of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ and of the product of its two elements intersects $L_0$. One of the ${\textsf {e}}_0'$ and ${\textsf {e}}_0''$ is an element of ${\mathcal {E}}$, the other is in ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$ or is the product of two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$. Each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}'_2\cup {{\mathcal {E}}'_2}^{-1}$.

Move the base point $q_0$ to a point $q \in L_0$ along a curve $\alpha$, and consider the respective generators ${\textsf {e}}'=\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\textsf {e}}'_0)$ and ${\textsf {e}}''=\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\textsf {e}}''_0)$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q)$ with base point q. Since $F(L_0)\subset {\mathcal {H}}$ there is a complex affine mapping M such that $M\circ F(q)\in C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Since F is irreducible, the monodromy maps modulo center $(M\circ F)_*({\textsf {e}}')\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ and $(M\circ F)_*({\textsf {e}}'')\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ are not powers of a single standard generator $\sigma _j\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ (see Lemma 7 of [20]). Hence, the second option of Lemma 7 occurs. We obtain that each of the $(M\circ F)_*({\textsf {e}}')\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ and $(M\circ F)_*({\textsf {e}}'')\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ is a product of at most two elements ${\textsf {b}}_j$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}_j))\le 2\pi \lambda _3(X)$. Hence, $(M\circ F)_*(e')\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ and $(M\circ F)_*(e'')\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ are products of at most 4 elements of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with this property. The proposition is proved for tori with a hole.

2. A planar domain. Let X be a planar domain. Maybe, after applying a Möbius transformation, we represent X as the Riemann sphere with holes ${\mathcal {C}}_j$, $j=1,\ldots ,m+1,$ such that ${\mathcal {C}}_{m+1}$ contains $\infty$. Recall, that the set ${\mathcal {E}}$ of generators $e_{j,0}, \, j=1,\ldots ,m,$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ with base point $q_0$ is chosen so that $e_{j,0}$ is represented by a loop with base point $q_0$ that surrounds ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ counterclockwise and does not surround any other hole. There is a connected component $L_0$ of L of one of the following kinds. Either $L_0$ has limit points on the boundary of two different holes (one of them may contain $\infty$) (first kind), or a component $L_0$ has limit points on a single hole ${\mathcal {C}}_j,\, j\le m+1,$ and ${\mathcal {C}}_j\cup L_0$ divides the plane ${\mathbb {C}}$ into two connected components each of which contains a hole (maybe, only the hole containing $\infty$) (second kind), or there is a compact component $L_0$ that divides ${\mathbb {C}}$ into two connected components each of which contains at least two holes (one of them may contain $\infty$). Indeed, suppose each non-compact component of L has boundary points on the boundary of a single hole and the union of the component with the hole does not separate the remaining holes of X, and for each compact component of L one of the connected components of its complement in X contains at most one hole. Then there exists a base point $q_1$, a curve $\alpha _{q_1}$ in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point $q_1$, and a representative of each element of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha _{q_1}}({\mathcal {E}})\subset \pi _1(X,q_1)$ that avoids L. Lemma 8 implies that all monodromies modulo center are powers of a single periodic element of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ which is a contradiction.

If there is a component $L_0$ of the first kind we may choose the same set of primitive elements ${\mathcal {E}}_2'\subset {\mathcal {E}}_2 \subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$ as in the proof of Proposition 3 in the planar case. The free homotopy class of each element of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$ and of the product of two such elements intersects $L_0$. Moreover, each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_2'$. Let $\alpha _q$ be a curve in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q, and M a complex affine mapping, such that $(M\circ F)(q)\in C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Since $M\circ F$ is irreducible, the monodromies modulo center of $M\circ F$ along the elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ are not (trivial or non-trivial) powers of a single element $\sigma _j\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$. Hence, for each element of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ there exists another element of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ so that the second option of Lemma 7 holds for this pair of elements of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$. Therefore, the monodromy modulo center of $M\circ F$ along each element of $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_2')$ is the product of at most two elements ${\textsf {b}}_j\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ of ${\mathcal {L}}_-$ not exceeding $2\pi \lambda _4(X)$, and the monodromy modulo center of $M\circ F$ along each element $\text{ Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$ is the product of at most 4 elements of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}_j))$, each not exceeding $2\pi \lambda _4(X)$.

Suppose there is no component of the first kind but a component $L_0$ of the second kind. Assume first that all limit points of $L_0$ are on the boundary of a hole ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ that does not contain $\infty$. Put ${\mathcal {E}}_3'=\{e_{j,0}\} \cup _{1\le k\le m,\, k\ne j}\{ e_{j,0}^2 e_{k,0}\}$. Each element of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'$ is a primitive element and is the product of at most three generators contained in the set ${\mathcal {E}}$. Further, each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ is the product of at most three elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'\cup {{\mathcal {E}}_3'}^{-1}$.

The free homotopy class of each element of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'$ and of each product of two different elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'$ intersects $L_0$. Indeed, any curve that is contained in the complement of ${\mathcal {C}}_j\cup L_0$ has either winding number zero around ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ (as a curve in the complex plane ${\mathbb {C}}$), or its winding number around ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ coincides with the winding number around each of the holes in the bounded connected component of ${\mathcal {C}}_j$. On the other hand the representatives of the free homotopy class of $e_{j,0}$ have winding number 1 around ${\mathcal {C}}_j$ and winding number 0 around each other hole that does not contain $\infty$. The representatives of the free homotopy class of $e_{j,0}^2 e_{k,0}$, $k\le m,\, k\ne j$, have winding number 2 around ${\mathcal {C}}_j$, winding number 1 around ${\mathcal {C}}_k$, and winding number zero around each other hole ${\mathcal {C}}_l,\, l\le m$. The argument for products of two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'$ is the same.

Choose a point $q\in L_0$, a curve $\alpha$ in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q, and a complex affine mapping M such that $M\circ F(q)\in C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$. Lemma 7 finishes the proof for this case in the same way as in the case when there is a component of first kind. In the present case each $(M\circ F)_*({\tilde{e}})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, ${\tilde{e}}\in \mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}}_3')$, can be written as a product of at most 2 factors ${\textsf {b}}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}))\le 2\pi \lambda _6(X)$. Hence, each $(M\circ F)_*(e_j)\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, $e_j=\text{ Is}_{\alpha }(e_{j,0})$, can be written as a product of at most 6 factors ${\textsf {b}}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}))\le 2\pi \lambda _6(X)$.

Assume that the limit points of $L_0$ are on the boundary of the hole ${\mathcal {C}}_{\infty }$ that contains $\infty$. Let ${\mathcal {C}}_{j_0}$ and ${\mathcal {C}}_{k_0}$ be holes that are contained in different components of $X {\setminus } (L_0 \cup {\mathcal {C}}_{\infty })$, and let $e _{j_0,0}$ and $e _{k_0,0}$ be the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$ whose representatives surround ${\mathcal {C}}_{j_0}$, and ${\mathcal {C}}_{k_0}$ respectively. Denote by ${\mathcal {E}}'_3$ the set that consists of the elements $e _{j_0,0}e _{k_0,0}\,$, $\;e _{j_0,0}^2e _{k_0,0}\,$, and all elements $e _{j_0,0}e _{k_0,0} {\tilde{e}}_0$ with ${\tilde{e}}_0$ running over ${\mathcal {E}}{\setminus } \{ e _{j_0,0},e _{k_0,0}\}$. Each element of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'$ is the product of at most 3 elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$, and each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ is the product of at most 3 elements of ${\mathcal {E}}'_3\cup ({\mathcal {E}}'_3)^{-1}$.

Each element of ${\mathcal {E}}'_3$ and each product of at most two different elements of ${\mathcal {E}}'_3$ intersects $L_0$. Indeed, if a closed curve is contained in one of the components of $X{\setminus } (L_0\cup {\mathcal {C}}_{\infty })$ then its winding number around each hole contained in the other component is zero. But for all mentioned elements there is a hole in each component of $X{\setminus } (L_0 \cup {\mathcal {C}}_{\infty })$ such that the winding number of the free homotopy class of the element around the hole does not vanish. Lemma 7 applies with the same meaning of q, $\alpha$, and M as before. Again, each $(M\circ F)_*(e_j)\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, $e_j=\text{ Is}_{\alpha }(e_{j,0})$, can be written as a product of at most 6 factors ${\textsf {b}}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}))\le 2\pi \lambda _6(X)$.

Notice that in case of $m+1=3$ holes only these two possibilities for the curve $L_0$ may occur. Hence in this case we find a set ${\mathcal {E}}_3'=\{{\textsf {e}}'_0,{\textsf {e}}''_0\} \subset \pi _1(X,q_0)$, such that one of the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'$ is the product of at most two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$, and each of the monodromies $F_*({\textsf {e}}'_0)$ and $F_*({\textsf {e}}''_0)$ is the product of at most two elements ${\textsf {b}}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}))\le 2\pi \lambda _5(X)$. Moreover, e and $e'$ are products of at most three factors, each an element of ${\mathcal {E}}_3'\cup {\mathcal {E}}_3'^{-1}$.

Suppose there are no components of L of the first or the second kind, but there is a connected component $L_0$ of L of the third kind. Let ${\mathcal {C}}_{j_0}$ be a hole contained in the bounded component of the complement of $L_0$, and let ${\mathcal {C}}_{k_0},\, k_0\le m,$ be a hole that is contained in the unbounded component of $X {\setminus } L_0$. Let $e _{j_0,0}$ and $e _{k_0,0}$ be the elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$ whose representatives surround ${\mathcal {C}}_{j_0}$, and ${\mathcal {C}}_{k_0}$ respectively. Consider the set ${\mathcal {E}}'_4$ consisting of the following elements: $e_{j_0,0} e_{k_0,0}$, $e_{j_0,0}^2 e_{k_0,0}$, and $e_{j_0,0}^2 e_{k_0,0} {\tilde{e}}_0$ for each ${\tilde{e}}_0\in {\mathcal {E}}$ different from $e_{j_0,0}$ and $e_{k_0,0}$. Each element of ${\mathcal {E}}'_4$ is the product of at most 4 elements of ${\mathcal {E}}$ and each element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ is the product of at most 3 elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_4'\cup ({\mathcal {E}}_4')^{-1}$. The product of two different elements of ${\mathcal {E}}'_4$ is contained in ${\mathcal {E}}'_8$.

The free homotopy classes of each element of ${\mathcal {E}}'_4$ and of each product of two different elements of ${\mathcal {E}}'_4$ intersects $L_0$. Indeed, if a loop is contained in the bounded connected component of $X{\setminus } L_0$, its winding number around the holes ${\mathcal {C}}_j, j\le m,$ contained in the unbounded component is zero. If a loop is contained in the unbounded connected component of $X{\setminus } L_0$, its winding numbers around all holes contained in the bounded connected component are equal. But the winding number of $e_{j_0,0} e_{k_0,0}$ and $e_{j_0,0}^2 e_{k_0,0}$ around the hole ${\mathcal {C}}_{j_0}$ is positive and the winding number around the other holes that are contained in the bounded connected component of $X{\setminus } L_0$ vanishes, hence the representatives of these two elements cannot be contained in the unbounded component of $X{\setminus } L_0$. Since the winding number of representatives of these elements around ${\mathcal {C}}_ {k_0}$ is positive, the representatives cannot be contained in the bounded component of $X{\setminus } L_0$. For representatives of the elements $e_{j_0,0}^2 e_{k_0,0} {\tilde{e}}_0$ the winding number around ${\mathcal {C}}_{j_0}$ equals 2, the winding number around any other hole in the bounded component of $X{\setminus } L_0$ is at most 1, and the winding number around ${\mathcal {C}}_{k_0}$ equals 1. Hence, the free homotopy classes of the mentioned elements must intersect both components of $X {\setminus } L_0$, hence they intersect $L_0$.

Representatives of any product of two elements of ${\mathcal {E}}_4'$ have winding number around ${\mathcal {C}}_{j_0}$ at least 3, the winding number around any other hole in the bounded component of $X{\setminus } L_0$ is at most 1, and the winding number around ${\mathcal {C}}_{k_0}$ equals 2. Hence, the free homotopy classes of these elements intersect $L_0$.

For a point $q\in L_0$, a curve $\alpha$ in X joining $q_0$ and q, and a complex affine mapping M for which $M\circ F(q)\in C_3( {\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$, an application of Lemma 7 proves that in this case each $(M\circ F)_*(e_j)\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, $e_j=\text{ Is}_{\alpha }(e_{j,0})$, can be written as a product of at most 6 factors ${\textsf {b}}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}))\le 2\pi \lambda _8(X)$. Proposition 6 is proved in the planar case with a slightly better constant.

3. The general case. Since not all monodromies are powers of a single element of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ that is either periodic or reducible, there exists a pair of generators $e_0'$, $e_0''$ in ${\mathcal {E}}$, such that the monodromies along them are not powers of a single periodic or reducible element. Consider the projection $\omega ^{\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle }: {\tilde{X}}\rightarrow X(\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle )$. By the proof for tori with a hole or for ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes there exist a relatively closed curve $L_{\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle }$ in $X(\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle )$ and a Möbius transformation M, such that for $F=M\circ f$ the mapping $F_{\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle } =F \circ \omega _{\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle }$ takes $L_{\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle }$ into ${\mathcal {H}}$, and takes a chosen point $q_{\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle }\in L_{\langle e_0', e_0''\rangle }$ to a point in $C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$.

Choose a point ${\tilde{q}}\in {{\tilde{X}}}$, for which $\omega ^{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }({\tilde{q}})=q_{\langle e_0, e'_0\rangle }$. Let ${\tilde{\alpha }}$ be a curve in ${{\tilde{X}}}$ with initial point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ and terminating point ${\tilde{q}}$. Then $\alpha _{\langle e_0', e''_0\rangle }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\omega ^{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }({\tilde{\alpha }})$ is a curve in $X(\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle )$ with initial point $(q_0)_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$ and terminating point $q_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$, and the curve $\alpha _{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$ in $X(\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle )$ and the point ${\tilde{q}}_0$ in the universal covering ${{\tilde{X}}}$ of $X(\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle )$ are compatible. Put $\alpha =\omega _{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }(\alpha _{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle })$, and for each $e_0\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ we denote as before the element $\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }({ e}_0)$ by e.

As in the case of a torus with a hole or ${\mathbb {P}}^1$ with three holes there are elements ${\textsf {e}}_0'$ and ${\textsf {e}}_0''$, one of them contained in ${\mathcal {E}}$ or equal to the product of at most two factors among the $e'_0$ and $e''_0$, the second either contained in ${\mathcal {E}}\cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$, or equal to the product of at most three factors among the $e'_0$ and $e''_0$, such that the free homotopy classes of $({\textsf {e}}_0')_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$, of $({\textsf {e}}''_0)_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$, and of their product intersect $L_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$. (For the definitions of $({\textsf {e}}_0')_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$ and of $({\textsf {e}}''_0)_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }$ see paragraph 3.1.) Moreover, $e'_0$ and $e''_0$ are products of at most three factors, each being either $({\textsf {e}}'_0)^{\pm 1}$ or $({\textsf {e}}''_0)^{\pm 1}$. Put ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle } } (({\textsf {e}}_0')_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle })$, ${\textsf {e}}''_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle }=\mathrm{Is}_{\alpha _{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle } } ( ({\textsf {e}}_0'')_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle })$. By Lemma 7 each monodromy $(F_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle })= F_*({\textsf {e}}')$ and $(F_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle })_*({\textsf {e}}''_{\langle e'_0, e''_0\rangle })= F_*({\textsf {e}}'')$ is the product of at most two elements ${\textsf {b}}_j\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}_j))\le 2\pi \lambda _5(X)$. Since $e'$ and $e''$ are products of at most three elements among $({\textsf {e}}')^{\pm 1}$ and $({\textsf {e}}'')^{\pm 1}$, each of the monodromies $F_*(e')$ and $F_*(e'')$ is the product of at most 6 elements ${\textsf {b}}_j\in {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}_j))\le 2\pi \lambda _5(X)$.

Take any element $e_0\in {\mathcal {E}}{\setminus } \{e'_0,e''_0\}$. Let $e=\text{ Is}_{\alpha }(e_0)$. Either the pair of monodromies ($F_*({\textsf {e}}')$, $F_*(e)$) or the pair of monodromies ($F_*({\textsf {e}}'')$, $F_*(e)$) does not consist of two powers of the same element of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ that is either periodic or reducible. Suppose this is so for the pair ($F_*({\textsf {e}}')$, $F_*(e)$).

Let $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ be the connected component of $(\omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}', {\textsf {e}}''\rangle }_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })^{-1}(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}',{\textsf {e}}''\rangle })$ that contains $\omega ^{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }({\tilde{q}})$. By Lemma 3, applied to the holomorphic projection ${\tilde{X}}\diagup (\mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}})^{-1}(\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle ) \rightarrow X(\langle {\textsf {e}}', {\textsf {e}}'' \rangle )$, the free homotopy class intersects $L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$. (For the definition of ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ see paragraph 3.1.) As in the proof of Proposition 4 we consider the Riemann surface $X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ and the curve $L_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }= \omega ^{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }_ {\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }(L_{\langle {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })$ (see paragraph 3.3. of the proof of proposition 4). As there we see that the free homotopy class intersects $L_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$. The system $e_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }, {\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ is associated to a standard bouquet of circles for $X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ (though the representing curves of ${\textsf {e}}'$ in X may not be simple closed curves or may intersect representing curves of e). This can be seen in the same way as in the proof of Proposition 4. Apply the arguments, used for $X(\langle e',e''\rangle )$ and the generators $e'_{\langle e', e''\rangle },e''_{\langle e', e''\rangle }$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X(\langle e', e''\rangle ), q_{\langle e', e''\rangle })$, to $X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ and the generators $e_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }, {\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle ), q_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })$.

In the case when $X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ is a torus with a hole, the intersection number of with $L_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ is non-zero. Put ${\mathfrak {e}}'={\textsf {e}}'$. For one of the choices $e^{\pm 1}$, or ${\textsf {e}}'\, e$, denoted by ${\mathfrak {e}}''$, the free homotopy classes of ${\mathfrak {e}}'_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$, ${\mathfrak {e}}''_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$, and of their product intersect $L_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$. Moreover, e is the product of at most two factors, each being $({\mathfrak {e}}')^{\pm 1}$, or $({\mathfrak {e}}'')^{\pm 1}$.

In case $X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ is planar, the curve $L_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ must have limit points on the hole that corresponds to the generator ${\textsf {e}}'_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle ), q_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle })$. We find elements ${\mathfrak {e}}'$ and ${\mathfrak {e}}''$ such that ${\mathfrak {e}}'= {\textsf {e}}'$ and ${\mathfrak {e}}''$ is either equal to $e^{-1}$, or to the product of at most three factors, one being equal to e and the others equal to ${\textsf {e}}'$, and the free homotopy classes of ${\mathfrak {e}}'_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$, ${\mathfrak {e}}''_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$, and their product intersect $L_{\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle }$. Moreover, e is the product of at most 3 factors, each being equal to $({\mathfrak {e}}'')^{\pm 1}$ or $({\mathfrak {e}}')^{\pm 1}$.

In both cases for $X(\langle e, {\textsf {e}}'\rangle )$ the element ${\mathfrak {e}}' {\mathfrak {e}}''$ is the product of at most 10 elements of ${\mathcal {E}} \cup {\mathcal {E}}^{-1}$. Lemma 7 implies, that $F_*({\mathfrak {e}})$ and $F_*({\mathfrak {e}}')$ are products of at most two factors $\textsf {b}$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}))$ not exceeding $2\pi \lambda _{10}(X)$. Hence, $F_*(e)$ is the product of at most 6 factors $\textsf {b}$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}))$ not exceeding $2\pi \lambda _{10}(X)$. We obtain the statement of Proposition 6 in the general case. Proposition 6 is proved. $\square$

Proof of Theorem 3

Let X be a connected Riemann surface of genus $\textsf {g}$ with ${\textsf {m}}+1\ge 1$ holes. Since each holomorphic (0, 3)-bundle with a holomorphic section on X is isotopic to a holomorphic special (0, 4)-bundle, we need to estimate the number of isotopy classes of irreducible smooth special (0, 4)-bundles on X, that contain a holomorphic bundle. By Lemma 4 of [20] the monodromies of such a bundle are not powers of a single element of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ which is conjugate to a $\sigma _j\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$, but they may be powers of a single periodic element of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ (equivalently, the isotopy class may contain a locally holomorphically trivial holomorphic bundle).

Consider an irreducible special holomorphic (0, 4)-bundle on X which is not isotopic to a locally holomorphically trivial bundle. Let $F(x),\, x \in X,$ be the set of finite distinguished points in the fiber over x. By the Holomorphic Transversality Theorem [21] the mapping $F:X\rightarrow C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ can be approximated on relatively compact subsets of X by holomorphic mappings that are transverse to ${\mathcal {H}}$. Similarly as in the proof of Theorem 1 we will therefore assume in the following (after slightly shrinking X to a deformation retract of X and approximating F) that F is transverse to ${\mathcal {H}}$.

By Proposition 6 there exists a complex affine mapping M and a point $q\in X$ such that $M\circ F(q)$ is contained in $C_3({\mathbb {R}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$, and for an arc $\alpha$ in X with initial point $q_0$ and terminating point q and each element $e_j\in \mathrm{Is}_{\alpha }({\mathcal {E}})$ the monodromy $(M\circ F)_*(e_j)\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ of the bundle can be written as product of at most 6 elements $\textsf {b}_{j,k},\, k=1,2,3,4,5,6,$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with

$$\begin{aligned} {\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}_{j,k})) \le 2\pi \lambda _{10}(X). \end{aligned}$$

(31)

The mappings F and $M\circ F$ from X into the symmetrized configuration space are free homotopic.

Consider an isotopy class of special (0, 4)-bundles that corresponds to a conjugacy class of homomorphisms $\pi _1(X,q_0)\rightarrow {\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ whose image is generated by a single periodic element of ${\mathcal {B}}_3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$. Up to conjugacy we may assume that this element is one of the following: $\mathrm{Id},\, \varDelta _3\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3,\, (\sigma _1 \sigma _2 )\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3 , \,(\sigma _1 \sigma _2)^{-1} \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$. For each of these elements $\textsf {b}$ the equality ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}))=0$ holds. Hence, in this case the isotopy class contains a smooth mapping ${{\tilde{F}}}$ such that for each $e_{j,0}\in {\mathcal {E}}$ the monodromy $(M\circ F)_*(e_{j,0})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ of the bundle can be written as product of at most 6 elements $\textsf {b}_{j,k},\, k=1,2,3,4,5,6,$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ satisfying inequality (31).

The same argument as in the proof of Theorem 1 shows the following fact. Each irreducible free homotopy class of mappings $X\rightarrow C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ that contains a holomorphic mapping contains a smooth mapping ${{\tilde{F}}}$ such that for each $e_{j,0}\in {\mathcal {E}}$ the monodromy ${\tilde{F}}_*(e_{j,0})\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ of the bundle can be written as product of at most 6 elements $\textsf {b}_{j,k},\, k=1,2,3,4,5,6,$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ satisfying inequality (31).

Using Lemma 1 of [18] the number of elements $\textsf {b}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ (including the identity), for which ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}))\le 2\pi \lambda _{10}(X)$, is estimated as follows. The element ${\textsf {w}}{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\vartheta ({\textsf {b}}) \in \mathcal {PB}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ can be considered as a reduced word in the free group generated by $a_1=\sigma _1^2\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ and $a_2=\sigma _2^2\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$. By Lemma 1 of [18] there are no more than $\frac{1}{2}\exp (6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X))+1\le \frac{3}{2}\exp (6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X))$ reduced words $\textsf {w}$ in $a_1$ and $a_2$ (including the identity) satisfying the inequality ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\textsf {w})\le 2\pi \lambda _{10}(X)$.

For a given element ${\textsf {w}}\in \mathcal {PB}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ (including the identity) we describe now all elements ${\textsf {b}}$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with $\vartheta (\textsf {b})=\textsf {w}$. If ${\textsf {w}}\ne \text{ Id }$ these are the following elements. If the first term of ${\textsf {w}}$ equals $a_j^k$ with $k\ne 0$, then the possibilities are $\textsf {b}={\textsf {w}} \cdot (\varDelta _3^{\ell }\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3)$ with $\ell =0$ or 1, $\textsf {b}=(\sigma _j^{{\text{ sgn }} k}\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3)\cdot {\textsf {w}} \cdot (\varDelta _3^{\ell }\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3)$ with $\ell =0$ or 1, or $\textsf {b}=(\sigma _{j'}^{\pm 1}\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3) \cdot {\textsf {w}} \cdot (\varDelta _3^{\ell }\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3)$ with $\ell =0$ or 1 and $\sigma _{j'}\ne \sigma _{j}$. Hence, for $\textsf {w}\ne \text{ Id }$ there are 8 possible choices of elements ${\textsf {b}}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with $\vartheta ({\textsf {b}})= {\textsf {w}}$.

If $\textsf {b}= \text{ Id }$ then the choices are $\varDelta ^{\ell }\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ and $(\sigma _j^{\pm 1}\varDelta ^{\ell })\diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ for $j=1,2,$ and $\ell =0$ or $\ell =1$. These are 10 choices. Hence, there are no more than $15 \exp ( 6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X))$ different elements $\textsf {b}\in {\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}))\le 2 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)$.

Each monodromy is the product of at most six elements ${\textsf {b}}_j$ of ${\mathcal {B}}_3 \diagup {\mathcal {Z}}_3$ with ${\mathcal {L}}_-(\vartheta (\textsf {b}_j))\le 2 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)$. Hence, for each monodromy there are no more than $(15 \exp ( 6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)))^{6}$ possible choices. We proved that there are up to isotopy no more than $(15 \exp ( 6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)))^{6(2g+m)}$ irreducible holomorphic (0, 3)-bundles with a holomorphic section over X. Theorem 3 is proved. $\square$

Notice that we proved a slightly stronger statement, namely, over a Riemann surface of genus g with $m+1\ge 1$ holes there are no more than $(15 \exp ( 6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)))^{6(2g+m)}$ isotopy classes of smooth (0, 3)-bundles with a smooth section that contain a holomorphic bundle with a holomorphic section that is either irreducible or isotopic to the trivial bundle.

Proof of Theorem 2

Proposition 5 and Theorem 3 imply Theorem 2 as follows. Suppose an isotopy class of smooth (1, 1)-bundles over a finite open Riemann surface X contains a holomorphic bundle. By Proposition 5 the class contains a holomorphic bundle which is the double branched covering of a holomorphic special (0, 4)-bundle. If the (1, 1)-bundle is irreducible then also the (0, 4)-bundle is irreducible. There are up to isotopy no more than $\big (15(\exp (6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)))\big )^{6(2g+m)}$ holomorphic special (0, 4)-bundles over X that are either irreducible or isotopic to the trivial bundle.

By Theorem G and Theorem 3 there are no more than $\big (15\big (\exp (6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)))\big )^{6(2g+m)}$ conjugacy classes of monodromy homomorphisms that correspond to a special holomorphic (0, 4)-bundle over X that is either irreducible or isotopic to the trivial bundle. Each monodromy homomorphism of the holomorphic double branched covering is a lift of the respective monodromy homomorphism of the holomorphic special (0, 4)-bundle. Different lifts of a monodromy mapping class of a special (0, 4)-bundle differ by involution, and the fundamental group of X has $2g+m$ generators. Using Theorem G for (1, 1)-bundles, we see that there are no more than $2^{2g+m}\big (15(\exp (6 \pi \lambda _{10}(X)))\big )^{6(2g+m)}=\big (2 \times 15^6\times \exp (36 \pi \lambda _{10}(X))\big )^{2g+m}$ isotopy classes of (1, 1)-bundles that contain a holomorphic bundle that is either irreducible or isotopic to the trivial bundle. Theorem 2 is proved. $\square$

For convenience of the reader we give the short proofs of the Corollaries 1 and 2. Such statements are known in principle, but the case considered here is especially simple.

Proof of Corollary 1

We will prove that on a punctured Riemann surface there are no non-constant reducible holomorphic mappings to the twice punctured complex plane and that any homotopy class of mappings from a punctured Riemann surface to the twice punctured complex plane contains at most one holomorphic mapping. This implies the corollary.

Recall that a holomorphic mapping f from any punctured Riemann surface X to the twice punctured complex plane extends by Picard’s Theorem to a meromorphic function $f^c$ on the closed Riemann surface $X^c$. Suppose now that X is a punctured Riemann surface and that the mapping $f:X \rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ is reducible, i.e. it is homotopic to a mapping into a punctured disc contained in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. Perhaps after composing f with a Möbius transformation we may suppose that this puncture equals $-1$. Then the meromorphic extension $f^c$ omits the value 1. Indeed, if $f^c$ was equal to 1 at some puncture of X, then f would map the boundary of a sufficiently small disc on $X^c$ that contains the puncture to a loop in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ with non-zero winding number around 1 , which contradicts the fact that f is homotopic to a mapping into a disc punctured at $-1$ and contained in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. Hence, $f^c$ is a meromorphic function on a compact Riemann surface that omits a value, and, hence f is constant. Hence, on a punctured Riemann surface there are no non-constant reducible holomorphic mappings to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$.

Suppose $f_1$ and $f_2$ are non-constant homotopic holomorphic mappings from the punctured Riemann surface X to the twice punctured complex plane. Then for their meromorphic extensions $f^c_1$ and $f^c_2$ the functions $f^c_1-1$ and $f^c_2-1$ have the same divisor on the closed Riemann surface $X^c$. Indeed, suppose, for instance, that $f^c_1-1$ has a zero of order $k >0$ at a puncture p. Then for the boundary $\gamma$ of a small disc in $X^c$ around p the curve $(f_1-1) \circ \gamma$ in ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-2,0\}$ has index k with respect to the origin. Since $f_2-1$ is homotopic to $f_1-1$ as mapping to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-2,0\}$, the curve $(f_2-1) \circ \gamma$ is free homotopic to $(f_1-1) \circ \gamma$ . Hence, $f_2-1$ has a zero of order k at p. Applying the same arguments with 0 replaced by $\infty$, we obtain that $f^c_1-1$ and $f^c_2-1$ have the same divisor. Hence, $f^c_1-1$ and $f^c_2-1$ differ by a non-zero multiplicative constant. Since the functions are non-constant they must take the value $-2$. By the same reasoning as above the functions are equal to $-2$ simultaneously. Hence, the multiplicative constant is equal to 1. We proved that non-constant homotopic holomorphic maps from punctured Riemann surfaces to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ are equal. $\square$

Proof of Corollary 2

We need the following fact. For each special (0, 4)-bundle ${\mathfrak {F}}=(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1, \mathrm{pr}_1, {{\varvec{E}}}, X)$ there is a finite unramified covering $\hat{{\textsf {P}}}:{{\hat{X}}}\rightarrow X$ of X, such that ${\mathfrak {F}}$ lifts to a special (0, 4)-bundle $({\hat{X}}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1,\mathrm{pr}_1,\hat{\varvec{E}},X)$, for which the complex curve $\hat{\varvec{E}}$ is the union of four disjoint complex curves $\hat{\varvec{E}}^k,\, k=1,2,3,4,$ each intersecting each fiber $\{{\hat{x}}\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ along a single point $({\hat{x}},\,{\hat{g}}^k({\hat{x}}))$. This can be seen as follows. Let $q_0$ be the base point of X. The monodromy mapping class along each element e of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$ takes the set of distinguished points ${\varvec{E}}\cap (\{q_0\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1)$ onto itself, permuting them by a permutation $\sigma (e)$. Consider the set N of elements $e\in \pi _1(X,q_0)$ for which $\sigma (e)$ is the identity. The set N is a normal subgroup of $\pi _1(X,q_0)$. Its index is finite, since two left cosets $e_1\,N$ and $e_2 \, N$ are equal if $\sigma (e_2\,e_1^{-1}) = \sigma (e_2)\sigma (e_1)^{-1}=\mathrm{Id}$, and there are only finitely many distinct permutations of points of ${\varvec{E}}\cap (\{q_0\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1)$. The quotient ${\hat{X}}{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}{\tilde{X}}\diagup \mathrm{Is}^{{\tilde{q}}_0}(N)$ of the universal covering of X by the group of covering transformations corresponding to N and the canonical projection ${\hat{X}}\rightarrow X$ define the required covering.

To prove the corollary, we have to show, that any reducible holomorphic (1, 1)-bundle over a punctured Riemann surface X is locally holomorphically trivial, and that two isotopic (equivalently, smoothly isomorphic) holomorphically non-trivial holomorphic (1, 1)-bundles over X are holomorphically isomorphic.

The second fact is obtained as follows. Suppose the holomorphically non-trivial holomorphic (1, 1)-bundles ${\mathfrak {F}}_j,\,j=1,2,$ have conjugate monodromy homomorphisms. By Proposition 5 each ${\mathfrak {F}}_j$ is holomorphically isomorphic to a double branched covering of a special holomorphic (0, 4)-bundle $(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1,\mathrm{pr}_1,\varvec{E}_j,X){\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} {P}({\mathfrak {F}}_j)$. The bundles ${P}({\mathfrak {F}}_j)$ are isotopic, since they have conjugate monodromy homomorphisms. There is a finite unramified covering $\hat{{\textsf {P}}}:{{\hat{X}}}\rightarrow X$ of X, such that the bundles $P({\mathfrak {F}}_j)$ have isotopic lifts $({\hat{X}}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1,\mathrm{pr}_1,\hat{\varvec{E}}_j,X)$ to ${{\hat{X}}}$, and for each j the complex curve $\hat{\varvec{E}}_j$ is the union of four disjoint complex curves $\hat{\varvec{E}}_l^k,\, k=1,2,3,4,$ each intersecting each fiber $\{{\hat{x}}\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ along a single point $({\hat{x}},\,{\hat{g}}_j^k({\hat{x}}))$. The lifted bundles are not isotopic to the trivial bundle. The mappings ${\hat{X}}\ni {\hat{x}}\rightarrow {\hat{g}}_j^k({\hat{x}})$ are holomorphic. We may assume that ${\hat{g}}_j^4({\hat{x}})=\infty$ for each ${\hat{x}}$. Define for $j=1,2,$ a holomorphic isomorphism of the bundle $({\hat{X}}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1,\mathrm{pr}_1,\hat{\varvec{E}}_j,X)$ by

$$\begin{aligned} \{{\hat{x}}\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1\ni ({\hat{x}},\,\zeta )\rightarrow \Big ({\hat{x}},\,-1 + 2\frac{{\hat{g}}_j^1({\hat{x}})-\zeta }{{\hat{g}}_j^1({\hat{x}})-{\hat{g}}_j^2({\hat{x}}) }\Big ). \end{aligned}$$

The image $\hat{\varvec{E}}'_j$ of $\hat{\varvec{E}}_j$ under the j-th isomorphism intersects the fiber over each ${\hat{x}}\in {{\hat{X}}}$ along the four points $({\hat{x}},-1),\,({\hat{x}},1),\,({\hat{x}},\infty ),$ and $({\hat{x}},\mathring{g}_j({\hat{x}}))$ for a holomorphic function $\mathring{g}_j$ on ${{\hat{X}}}$ that avoids $-1,\,1$ and $\infty$. The functions $\;\mathring{g}_j\;$, $j=1,2,\;$ are homotopic, since the bundles are isotopic. They are not homotopic to a constant function since the bundles are not isotopic to the trivial bundle. By Corollary 1 the functions $\;\mathring{g}_1\;$ and $\;\mathring{g}_2\;$ coincide. Hence, the bundles $\;\;({\hat{X}}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1,\mathrm{pr}_1,\hat{\varvec{E}}_j,X)\;\;$ are holomorphically isomorphic. This means that there is a nowhere vanishing holomorphic function ${\hat{\alpha }}$ on ${{\hat{X}}}$, such that for each ${\hat{x}}\in {\hat{X}}$ the equality $\{{\hat{x}}\}\times {\hat{E}}_2({\hat{x}})=\{{\hat{x}}\}\times {\hat{\alpha }}({\hat{x}}) {\hat{E}}_1({\hat{x}})$ holds. Here ${\hat{E}}_j({\hat{x}})$ is defined by the equality $\hat{\varvec{E}}_j\cap (\{{\hat{x}}\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1)=\{{\hat{x}}\}\times {\hat{E}}_j({\hat{x}})$. Define also $E_j(x)$ by the equality $\{x\}\times E_j(x)=\varvec{E}_j\cap (\{{x}\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1)$. For a point $x\in X$ and ${\hat{x}}_1,{\hat{x}}_2\in {\hat{{\textsf {P}}}}^{-1}(x)$ the equalities $\hat{{E}}_j({\hat{x}}_1)= \hat{{E}}_j({\hat{x}}_2)=E_j(x),\,j=1,2,$ hold. Hence, $E_2(x)={\hat{\alpha }}({\hat{x}}_1){E}_1({x})={\hat{\alpha }}({\hat{x}}_2) {E}_1({x})$. For a set $E\subset C_3({\mathbb {C}})\diagup {\mathcal {S}}_3$ and a complex number $\alpha$ the equality $E=\alpha E$ is possible only if $\alpha =1$, or $\alpha = -1$ and E is obtained from $\{-1,0,1\}$ by multiplication with a non-zero complex number, or $\alpha =e^{\pm \frac{2\pi i}{3}}$ and E is obtained from the set of vertices of an equilateral triangle with barycenter 0 by multiplication with a non-zero complex number.

For x in a small open disc on X and $x\rightarrow {\hat{x}}_j(x),\,j=1,2,$ being two local inverses of $\hat{{\textsf {P}}}$ the functions $x\rightarrow {\hat{\alpha }}({\hat{x}}_j(x))$ are two analytic functions whose ratio is contained in a finite set, hence the ratio is equal to a constant. If the constant was different from one, then all fibers of ${ P}({\mathfrak {F}}_1)$ would be conformally equivalent to each other and, hence, ${ P}({\mathfrak {F}}_1)$ would be locally holomorphically trivial. Since the bundles ${\mathfrak {F}}_j$, and, hence, also the ${P}({\mathfrak {F}}_j)$, are locally holomorphically non-trivial, the ratio of the two functions equals 1. We saw that for each pair of points ${\hat{x}}_1,{\hat{x}}_2\in {\hat{X}}$, that project to the same point $x\in X$, ${\hat{\alpha }}({\hat{x}}_1)={\hat{\alpha }}({\hat{x}}_2)$. Put $\alpha (x)={\hat{\alpha }}({\hat{x}}_j)$ for any point ${\hat{x}}_j\in (\hat{{\textsf {P}}})^{-1}(x)$. We obtain ${E}_2({x})={\alpha }({x}){E}_1({x})$, that means, the bundles ${P}({\mathfrak {F}}_j)$ are holomorphically isomorphic. Since the bundles ${\mathfrak {F}}_j$, $j=1,2,$ are double branched coverings of the ${P}({\mathfrak {F}}_j)$ and have conjugate monodromy homomorphism, they are holomorphically isomorphic.

The first fact is obtained as follows. After a holomorphic isomorphism we may assume that the reducible holomorphic (1, 1)-bundle is a double branched covering of a reducible special (0, 4)-bundle $P({\mathfrak {F}})=(X\times {\mathbb {P}}^1, \mathrm{pr}_1, \mathring{\varvec{E}}\cup \varvec{s}^{\infty }, X)$. After a further isomorphism the bundle $P({\mathfrak {F}})$ lifts to a holomorphic bundle , such that $\hat{\mathring{\varvec{E}}}$ intersects each fiber $\{x\}\times {\mathbb {P}}^1$ along a set of the form $\{\hat{x}\}\times \{-1,1,\mathring{g}(\hat{x})\}$. Since ${\mathfrak {F}}$ is reducible, hence $P({\mathfrak {F}})$ and also are reducible, the mapping $\mathring{g}$ is constant by Corollary 1. Hence, all fibers of are conformally equivalent, and, hence, all fibers of $P({\mathfrak {F}})$ are conformally equivalent. Since ${\mathfrak {F}}$ is the double branched covering of $P({\mathfrak {F}})$, all fibers of ${\mathfrak {F}}$ are conformally equivalent. The first fact is proved. $\square$

Proof of Proposition 1

Denote by $S^{\alpha }$ a skeleton of $T^{\alpha ,\sigma } \subset T^{\alpha }$ which is the union of two circles each of which lifts under the covering ${\textsf {P}}:{\mathbb {C}}\rightarrow T^{\alpha }$ to a straight line segment which is parallel to an axis in the complex plane. Denote the intersection point of the two circles by $q_0$. Note that $S_{\alpha }$ is a standard bouquet of circles for $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ with base point $q_0$, and ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(T^{\alpha ,\sigma })$ is the $\frac{\sigma }{2}$-neighbourhood of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(S^{\alpha })$.

Denote by e the generator of $\pi _1(T^{\alpha ,\sigma },q_0)$, that lifts to a vertical line segment and $e'$ the generator of $\pi _1(T^{\alpha ,\sigma },q_0)$, that lifts to a horizontal line segment. Put ${\mathcal {E}}=\{e,e'\}$. We show first the inequality

$$\begin{aligned} \lambda _3(T^{\alpha ,\sigma }) \le \frac{4(2\alpha +1)}{\sigma }\;. \end{aligned}$$

(32)

For this purpose we take any primitive element $e''$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(T^{\alpha ,\sigma },q_0)$ which is the product of at most three factors, each of the factors being an element of ${\mathcal {E}}$ or the inverse of an element of ${\mathcal {E}}$. We represent the element $e''$ by a piecewise $C^1$ mapping $f_1$ from an interval $[0,l_1]$ to the skeleton $S^{\alpha }$. We may consider $f_1$ as a piecewise $C^1$ mapping from the circle ${\mathbb {R}}\diagup (x \sim x+l_1)$ to the skeleton, and assume that for all points $t'$ of the circle where $f_1$ is not smooth, $f_1(t')=q_0$. Let $t_0\in [0,l_1]$ be a point for which $f_1(t_0)\ne q_0$. Let ${\tilde{f}}_1$ be a piecewise smooth mapping from $[t_0,t_0+l_1]$ to the universal covering ${\mathbb {C}}$ of $T^{\alpha }\subset T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ which projects to $f_1$. We may take $f_1$ so that the equality $|{\tilde{f}}_1'|=1$ holds. The mapping may be chosen so that $l_1\le 2 \alpha + 1$. (Recall that $\alpha \ge 1$ and the element e is primitive.)

Take any $t'$ for which $f_1$ is not smooth. We may assume that $f_1$ is chosen so that the direction of ${\tilde{f}}_1'$ changes by the angle $\pm \frac{\pi }{2}$ at each such point. Hence, there exists a neighbourhood $I(t')$ of $t'$ on $(t_0,t_0+\ell _1)$, such that the restriction ${\tilde{f}}_1'| I(t')$ covers two sides of a square of side length $\frac{\sigma }{2}$. Denote ${\tilde{q}}'_0$ the common vertex ${\tilde{f}}_1'(t')$ of these sides, and by ${\tilde{q}}''_0$ the vertex of the square that is not a vertex of one of the two sides. Replace the union of the two sides of the square that contain ${\tilde{q}}'_0$ by a quarter-circle of radius $\frac{\sigma }{2}$ with center at the vertex ${\tilde{q}}''_0$, and parameterize the latter by $t \rightarrow \frac{\sigma }{2} e^{\pm i\frac{2}{\sigma }t}$ so that the absolute value of the derivative equals 1. Notice that the quarter-circle is shorter than the union of the two sides.

Proceed in this way with all such points $t'$. After a reparameterization we obtain a $C^1$ mapping ${{\tilde{f}}}$ of the interval [0, l] of length l not exceeding $2 \alpha +1$ whose image is contained in the union of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(S^{\alpha })$ with some quarter-circles, such that $|{\tilde{f}}'|=1$. The distance of each point of the image of ${{\tilde{f}}}$ to the boundary of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(T^{\alpha ,\sigma })$ is not smaller than $\frac{\sigma }{2}$. The mapping ${{\tilde{f}}}$ is piecewise of class $C^2$. The normalization condition $|{\tilde{f}}'|=1$ implies $|{\tilde{f}}''|\le \frac{2}{\sigma }$.

The projection $f={\textsf {P}}\circ {\tilde{f}}$ can be considered as a mapping from the circle ${\mathbb {R}}\diagup (x\sim x +l)$ of length l not exceeding $2 \alpha + 1$ to $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$, that represents the free homotopy class of the chosen element of the fundamental group.

Consider the mapping $x+iy \rightarrow {\tilde{F}}(x+iy) {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}{\tilde{f}}(x) + i {\tilde{f}}'(x) y \in {\mathbb {C}}$, where $x+iy$ runs along the rectangle $R_l= \{x+iy \in {\mathbb {C}}: x\in [0,l], |y| \le \frac{\sigma }{4}\}$. The image of this mapping is contained in the closure of ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(T^{\alpha ,\sigma })$. Since $2\frac{\partial }{\partial z} {\tilde{F}} (x+iy)= 2 {\tilde{f}}'(x) + i {\tilde{f}}''(x) y$ and $2\frac{\partial }{ \partial {\bar{z}}} {\tilde{F}}(x+iy)= i {\tilde{f}}''(x) y$, the Beltrami coefficient $\mu _{{\tilde{F}}}(x+iy)= \frac{\frac{\partial }{{\bar{z}}} {\tilde{F}} (x+iy)}{\frac{\partial }{z} {\tilde{F}} (x+iy)}$ of ${\tilde{F}}$ satisfies the inequality $|\mu _{{\tilde{F}}}(x+iy) | \le \frac{1}{3}$. Hence, for $K=\frac{1+\frac{1}{3}}{1-\frac{1}{3}}=2$ the mapping ${\tilde{F}}$ descends to a K-quasiconformal mapping F from the annulus $A_l$ to $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ of extremal length $\lambda (A_l)=\frac{l}{\frac{\sigma }{2}}\le 2 \frac{(2 \alpha +1)}{\sigma }$ that represents the free homotopy class of the element $e''$ of the fundamental group $\pi _1(T^{\alpha ,\sigma } ,q_0)$. Realize $A_l$ as an annulus in the complex plane. Let $\varphi$ be the solution of the Beltrami equation on ${\mathbb {C}}$ with Beltrami coefficient $\mu _{{\tilde{F}}}$ on $A_l$ and zero else. Then the mapping $g=F \circ \varphi ^{-1}$ is a holomorphic mapping of the annulus $\varphi (A_l)$ of extremal length not exceeding $K \lambda (A_l) \le \frac{4(2\alpha +1 )}{\sigma }$ into $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ that represents the chosen element of the fundamental group $\pi _1(T^{\alpha ,\sigma },q_0)$. Inequality (32) is proved.

By Theorem 1 for tori with a hole there are up to homotopy no more than $3(\frac{3}{2}e^{24 \pi \lambda _3(T^{\alpha ,\sigma })})^2\le \frac{27}{4}e^{3\times 2^4 \pi \frac{2\alpha +1}{\sigma }}< 7e^{3\times 2^4 \pi \frac{2\alpha +1}{\sigma }}$ non-constant irreducible holomorphic mappings from $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ to the twice punctured complex plane.

We give now the proof of the lower bound. Let $\delta =\frac{1}{10}$. We consider the annulus $A^{\alpha ,\delta }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\{z\in {\mathbb {C}}:|\text{ Re }z|< \frac{5\delta }{2}\}\diagup (z\sim z+\alpha i)$. The extremal length of the annulus equals $\frac{\alpha }{5\delta }=2\alpha$.

For any natural number j we consider all elements of $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\},0)$ of the form

$$\begin{aligned} a_1^{\pm 2}a_2^{\pm 2} \ldots a_1^{\pm 2}a_2^{\pm 2} \end{aligned}$$

(33)

containing 2j terms, each of the form $a_j^{\pm 2}$. The choice of the sign in the exponent of each term is arbitrary. There are $2^{2j}$ elements of this kind. By [17] there is a relatively compact domain G in the twice punctured complex plane ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ and a positive constant C such that the following holds. For each j, each element of the fundamental group of the form (33), and for each annulus of extremal length at least 2Cj there exists a base point q in the annulus, and a holomorphic mapping from the annulus to G that maps q to 0 and represents the element. Put $j=[\frac{\alpha }{10C\delta }]$, where [x] is the largest integer not exceeding a positive number x. Then each element of the form (33) with this number j can be represented by a holomorphic map $\mathring{g}$ from the annulus $A^{\alpha ,\delta }$ to G. There is a constant $C_1$ that depends only on G such that the mapping $\mathring{g}$ satisfies the inequality $|\mathring{g}|<C_1$. Let g be the lift of $\mathring{g}$ to a mapping from the strip $\{z\in {\mathbb {C}}:|\text{ Re }z|< \frac{5\delta }{2}\}$ to G. On the thinner strip $\{|\text{ Re }z|< \frac{3\delta }{2}\}$ the derivative of g satisfies the inequality $|g'|\le \frac{C_1}{\delta }$.

We will associate to the holomorphic mapping $\mathring{g}$ on the annulus a smooth mapping $g_1$ from $T^{\alpha ,\delta }\subset T^{\alpha }$ to G, such that (with $\textsf {P}$ being the projection ${\textsf {P}}:{\mathbb {C}}\rightarrow T^{\alpha }$) the monodromy along the circle ${\textsf {P}}(\{\text{ Re }z=0\})$ with base point ${\textsf {P}}(0)$ is equal to (33), and the monodromy along ${\textsf {P}}(\{\text{ Im }z=0\}$ with the same base point equals the identity. This is done as follows. Let $F_{\alpha }=[-\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})\times [-\frac{\alpha }{2},\frac{\alpha }{2})\subset {\mathbb {C}}$ be a fundamental domain for the projection ${\textsf {P}}:{\mathbb {C}}\rightarrow T^{\alpha }$. Put $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }=F_{\alpha }\cap {\textsf {P}}^{-1}(T^{\alpha ,\delta })$. Let $\chi _0:[0,1]\rightarrow {\mathbb {R}}$ be a non-decreasing function of class $C^2$ with $\chi _0(0)=0,\, \chi _0(1)=1$, $\chi '_0(0)=\chi '_0(1)=0$ and $|\chi _0'(t)|\le \frac{3}{2}$. Define $\chi :[\frac{-3\delta }{2},\frac{+3\delta }{2}]\rightarrow [0,1]$ by

$$\begin{aligned} \chi (t) = {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \chi _0\left( \frac{1}{\delta }t+ \frac{3}{2}\right) &{} \; t \in [\frac{-3\delta }{2},\frac{-\delta }{2}] \\ 1 &{} \; t \in [\frac{-\delta }{2},\frac{+\delta }{2}]\\ \chi _0\left( -\frac{1}{\delta }t+ \frac{3}{2}\right) &{} \; t \in [\frac{\delta }{2},\frac{3\delta }{2}]. \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$

(34)

Notice that $\chi$ is a $C^2$-function that vanishes at the endpoints of the interval $[\frac{-3\delta }{2},\frac{+3\delta }{2}]$ together with its first derivative, is non-decreasing on $[\frac{-3\delta }{2},\frac{-\delta }{2}]$, and non-increasing on $[\frac{\delta }{2},\frac{3\delta }{2}]$. Put $g_1(z)= \chi (\text{ Re }z)\; g(z) + (1-\chi (\text{ Re }z))\; g(0)$ for z in the intersection of $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }$ with $\{|\text{ Re }z|<\frac{3\delta }{2}\}$, and $g_1(z)=g(0)$ for z in the rest of $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }$.

Put $\varphi (z)= \frac{\partial }{\partial {\bar{z}}} g_1(z)$ on $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }$. Since $\frac{\partial }{\partial {\bar{z}}} \chi (\text{ Re } z)=0$ for $|\text{ Re } z|<\frac{\delta }{2}$ and for $|\text{ Re } z|>\frac{3\delta }{2}$, the function $\varphi (z)$ vanishes on $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }{\setminus } Q$ with $Q{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}([ -\frac{3\delta }{2}, +\frac{3\delta }{2}] \times [-\frac{\delta }{2},\frac{\delta }{2}])$. On $Q \cap \varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }$ the inequality

$$\begin{aligned} |\varphi (z)|\le \frac{1}{2} |\chi '(\text{ Re } z)|\, |g(z)-g(0)|\le \frac{3}{4\delta } \cdot \frac{C_1}{\delta }|z|< \frac{3}{4\delta ^2} \cdot C_1 \cdot 2\delta = \frac{3}{2} \frac{C_1}{\delta }\, \end{aligned}$$

(35)

holds. Notice that the functions $g_1$ and $\varphi$ extend to ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}( T^{\alpha ,\delta })$ as continuous doubly periodic functions. Hence, we may consider them as functions on $T^{\alpha ,\delta }$ (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5

A fundamental domain for a torus with a hole and the poles of the kernel for the ${\bar{\partial }}$-equation

We want to find a small positive number $\varepsilon$ that depends on C and $C_1$, but not on $\alpha$, such that the following holds. For $\sigma {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \varepsilon \delta$ there exists a solution f of the equation $\frac{\partial }{\partial {\bar{z}}}f(z)=\varphi (z)$ on $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ such that for each z the value |f(z)| is smaller than the Euclidean distance in ${\mathbb {C}}$ of $\pm 1$ to ${{\overline{G}}}$. Then $g_1-f$ is a holomorphic mapping from $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ whose class has monodromies equal to (33), and to the identity, respectively. This gives $\,2^{2 [\frac{\alpha }{10C\delta }]}\ge 2^{2 \frac{\alpha }{10C\delta }-2}=\frac{1}{4}e^{\frac{2\varepsilon \log 2}{10C}\frac{\alpha }{\sigma }}$ different homotopy classes of mappings from $T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$, and, hence proves the lower bound.

To solve the ${\bar{\partial }}$-problem on $T^{\alpha ,\varepsilon \delta }= T^{\alpha ,\sigma }$, we consider an explicit kernel function which mimics the Weierstraß $\wp$-function. The author is grateful to Bo Berndtsson who suggested to use this kernel function.

Recall that the Weierstraß $\wp$-function related to the torus $T^{\alpha }$ is the doubly periodic meromorphic function

$$\begin{aligned} \wp _{\alpha }(\zeta )=\frac{1}{\zeta ^2}+ \underset{(n,m) \in {\mathbb {Z}}^2{\setminus } (0,0)}{\sum } \Big (\frac{1}{(\zeta -n- i m \alpha )^2 }- \frac{1}{(n+ i m \alpha )^2}\Big )\, \end{aligned}$$

on ${\mathbb {C}}$. It defines a meromorphic function on $T^{\alpha }$ with a double pole at the projection of the origin and no other pole.

Put $\nu =\frac{1}{2} + \frac{\alpha i}{2}$. Since for $\zeta \not \in ({\mathbb {Z}}+i\alpha {\mathbb {Z}})\cup (\nu +{\mathbb {Z}}+i\alpha {\mathbb {Z}})$ the equality

$$\begin{aligned}&\frac{1}{(\zeta -n- i m \alpha ) } - \frac{1}{(\zeta -n- i m \alpha -\nu ) }+ \frac{\nu }{(\zeta -n- i m \alpha )^2 } \\&\quad = \frac{-\nu ^2}{(\zeta -n- i m \alpha )^2 (\zeta - n- i m \alpha -\nu ) }\, \end{aligned}$$

holds, and the series with these terms converges uniformly on compact sets not containing poles, the expression

$$\begin{aligned} \wp _{\alpha }^{\nu }(\zeta )= \frac{1}{\zeta }-\frac{1}{\zeta -\nu } + \, \underset{(n,m) \in {\mathbb {Z}}^2{\setminus } (0,0)}{\sum } \Big (\frac{1}{(\zeta -n- i m \alpha ) } - \frac{1}{(\zeta -n- i m \alpha -\nu ) } + \frac{\nu }{(n+ i m \alpha )^2}\Big )\, \end{aligned}$$

defines a doubly periodic meromorphic function on ${\mathbb {C}}$ with only simple poles. The function descends to a meromorphic function on $T^{\alpha }$ with two simple poles and no other pole.

Recall that the support of $\varphi$ is contained in Q. The set Q is contained in the $2\delta$-disc in ${\mathbb {C}}$ (in the Euclidean metric) around the origin. If $\zeta$ is contained in the $2\delta$-disc around the origin and $z \in \varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }$, then the point $\zeta -z$ is contained in the ${2\delta }$-neighbourhood (in ${\mathbb {C}}$) of $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }$. By the choice of $\delta$ the distance of any such point $\zeta -z$ to any lattice point $n+i \alpha m$ except 0 is larger than $\frac{1}{2}-2\delta > \frac{1}{4}$. Further, for $z\in \varDelta ^{\alpha ,\delta }$ and $\zeta$ in the $2\delta$-disc around the origin the distance of the point $\zeta -z$ to any point $n+i \alpha m +\nu$ (including the point $\nu$) is not smaller than $\frac{1}{2}-\frac{5\delta }{2}= \frac{1}{4}$. Put $Q_{\varepsilon }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} Q\cap \varDelta ^{\alpha ,\varepsilon \delta }= ([ -\frac{3\delta }{2}, +\frac{3\delta }{2}] \times [-\frac{\varepsilon \delta }{2},+\frac{\varepsilon \delta }{2}]) \bigcup ([ -\frac{\varepsilon \delta }{2}, +\frac{\varepsilon \delta }{2}] \times [-\frac{\delta }{2},+\frac{\delta }{2}])$. Then the function

$$\begin{aligned} f(z)= - \frac{1}{\pi }\iint _{Q_{\varepsilon }} \varphi (\zeta ) \wp _{\alpha }^{\nu } (\zeta -z) dm_2(\zeta )\;, \end{aligned}$$

(36)

for z in $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\varepsilon \delta }$ is holomorphic outside $Q_{\varepsilon }$ and satisfies the equation $\frac{\partial }{\partial {\bar{z}}}f=\varphi$ on $Q_{\varepsilon }$. It extends continuously to a doubly periodic function on ${\textsf {P}}^{-1}(T^{\alpha ,\varepsilon \delta })$ and hence descends to a continuous function on $T^{\alpha ,\varepsilon \delta }$. It remains to estimate the supremum norm of the function f on $\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\sigma }=\varDelta ^{\alpha ,\varepsilon \delta }$. The following inequality holds for $z \in \varDelta ^{\alpha ,\sigma }$

$$\begin{aligned} \left| \iint _{Q_{\varepsilon }} \varphi (\zeta ) \wp _{\alpha }^{\nu } (\zeta -z) dm_2(\zeta )\right|&= \left| \frac{1}{\pi }\iint _{Q_{\varepsilon }} \varphi (\zeta )\Big (\frac{1}{\zeta -z} + (\wp _{\alpha }^{\nu }(\zeta -z) -\frac{1}{\zeta -z})\Big ) dm_2(\zeta )\right| \nonumber \\&\le \frac{1}{\pi }\iint _{Q_{\varepsilon }} \frac{3C_1}{2\delta }\Big (|\frac{1}{\zeta -z}|+ C_2\Big ) dm_2(\zeta ) . \end{aligned}$$

(37)

We used the upper bound for $\varphi$ and the fact that for $z \in \varDelta ^{\alpha ,\sigma }$ and $\zeta$ in $Q_{\varepsilon }$ the expression $|\wp _{\alpha }^{\nu }(\zeta -z) -\frac{1}{\zeta -z}|$ is bounded by a universal constant $C_2$. The integral of the second term on the right hand side does not exceed $\frac{3 C_1}{2 \delta }\cdot C_2 \cdot 4\varepsilon \delta ^2=6 C_1 C_2 \varepsilon \delta$. The integral $\quad \iint _{Q_{\varepsilon }}|\frac{1}{\zeta -z}|dm_2(\zeta )\;$ does not exceed the sum of the two integrals $\quad I_1=\iint _{(- \frac{3}{2} \delta , \frac{3}{2} \delta )\times (- \frac{1}{2}\varepsilon \delta , \frac{1}{2}\varepsilon \delta )}\; \mid \frac{1}{\zeta -z}\mid dm_2(\zeta )\;, \;\;$ and $\;\; I_2=\iint _{(-\frac{1}{2}\varepsilon \delta , \frac{1}{2}\varepsilon \delta )\times (-\frac{1}{2}\delta ,\frac{1}{2}\delta )}\; \mid \frac{1}{\zeta -z}\mid dm_2(\zeta )\;$. The first integral $I_1$ is largest when $z= 0$. Hence, it does not exceed

$$\begin{aligned} \iint _{|\zeta |< (\sqrt{2})^{-1} \varepsilon \delta } \; \mid \frac{1}{\zeta } \mid dm_2(\zeta ) + 2\varepsilon \delta \int _{\frac{1}{2}\varepsilon \delta }^{\frac{3}{2}\delta }\, \frac{1}{\eta }\, d\eta \le \sqrt{2}\pi \varepsilon \delta + 2\varepsilon \delta \log {\frac{3}{\varepsilon }}. \end{aligned}$$

(38)

The second integral $I_2$ is smaller. We obtain the estimate

$$\begin{aligned} |f(z)|\le \frac{6 C_1 C_2 \varepsilon \delta }{\pi } + 3\frac{C_1}{\pi \delta }(\sqrt{2}\pi \varepsilon \delta + 2\varepsilon \delta \log {\frac{3}{\varepsilon }}). \end{aligned}$$

(39)

Recall that we have chosen $\delta =\frac{1}{10}$. We may choose $\varepsilon _0>0$ depending only on $C_1$ (and, hence, only on the domain G) so that if $\varepsilon < \varepsilon _0$ the supremum norm of f is less than the distance of $\pm 1$ to ${{\overline{G}}}$. The proposition is proved. $\square$

Proof of Proposition 2

Let $\ell _0$ be the length in the Kähler metric of the longest circle in the bouquet. For each natural number k and each positive $\sigma <\sigma _0$ the value $\lambda _k(S_{\sigma })$ satisfies the inequalities

$$\begin{aligned} C_1' \frac{\ell _0}{\sigma }\le \lambda _k(S_{\sigma })\le C_1'' \frac{\ell _0}{\sigma } \end{aligned}$$

(40)

for constants $C_1'$ and $C_1''$ depending on k, X, S and the Kähler metric. This can be seen by the argument used in the proof of Proposition 1.

The upper bound in inequalities (1) follows from Theorem 1.

The proof of the lower bound in (1) follows along the same lines as the proof of Proposition 1. It leads to a ${\overline{\partial }}$-problem on an open Riemann surface, for which Hörmander’s $L^2$-method can be used. The case of open Riemann surfaces is easier to treat as the general case of pseudo-convex domains. The needed results for Riemann surfaces are explicitly formulated in [25].

To obtain the lower bound we consider for each positive number $\delta <\sigma _0$ the $\delta$-neighbourhood of the longest circle $\gamma _0$ of the bouquet. Consider a curvilinear rectangle $R^X_{\delta }$, that avoids $q_0$ and is contained in the $\delta$-neighbourhood of the largest circle $\gamma _0$, whose “vertical curvilinear sides” are contained in the boundary of $S_{\delta }$ and whose open “horizontal curvilinear sides” are contained in $S_{\delta }$. Choosing $\sigma _0$ small enough, we may choose $R^X_{\delta }$ so that for its extremal length the inequality $\lambda (R^X_{\delta })>c \frac{\ell _0}{\delta } +4$ holds for a number $c>0$ that depends only on X, S and the Kähler metric. For any positive $\delta <\sigma _0$ we denote by $R_{\delta }$ the true rectangle $R_{\delta }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\{x+iy: x\in (-\delta ,\delta ), y \in (-c\ell _0-2\delta ,c\ell _0+2\delta )\}$ in the complex plane. Shrinking perhaps $R^X_{\delta }$, we may assume that $R^X_{\delta }$ is conformally equivalent to $R_{\delta }$. Denote by $\omega$ the conformal mapping $R^X_{\delta }\rightarrow R_{\delta }$ for which the orientation of the curve $\gamma _0$ corresponds to the positive orientation of the imaginary axis.

Let $G\subset {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ be the same relatively compact domain as in the proof of Proposition 1, and let $\mathring{R}_{\delta }\subset R_{\delta }$ be the rectangle in the complex plane with the same center and horizontal side length as $R_{\delta }$, and with vertical side length $2c\ell _0$. There is an absolute constant $C>0$ such that for $j=[\frac{c}{C} \frac{\ell _0}{\delta }]$ and any word of the form $a_1^{\pm 1}\, a_2^{\pm }\ldots a_2^{\pm 1}$ in the relative fundamental group $\pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}, (-1,1))$ with 2j terms there exists a holomorphic mapping $g:\mathring{R}_{\delta }\rightarrow G\subset {\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$ that represents this word and vanishes at $\pm i c\ell _0$ (see Theorem 1 of [17]). The function g extends by reflection through the horizontal sides of $\mathring{R}_{\delta }$ to a holomorphic function on $R_{\delta }$, that we also denote by g. Since $|g|\le C_1$ on $\mathring{R}_{\delta }$ and, hence, $|g|\le C_1$ also on $R_{\delta }$, for any positive $\alpha <1$ the inequality $|g'|\le \frac{C_1}{\delta (1-\alpha )}$ holds for the derivative of the mapping g on the smaller rectangle $R_{\delta \alpha }$ (defined as $R_\delta$ with $\delta$ replaced by $\alpha \delta$). This fact implies that $|g|\le \frac{\sqrt{2} C_1\alpha }{1-\alpha }$ on $Q_{\alpha \delta }^{\pm }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \{x+iy: x\in (-{\alpha \delta },{\alpha \delta }), \pm y\in (c\ell _0, c\ell _0 + \alpha \delta )\}$. We took into account that $g(\pm i c \ell _0)=0$. We take $\alpha$ so that $\frac{\sqrt{2} C_1\alpha }{1-\alpha } =\frac{1}{2}$.

With the same function $\chi _0$ as in the proof of Proposition 1 we define

$$\begin{aligned} \chi (t) = {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 1 &{} \; \;t \;\in [-c\ell _0,c\ell _0]\\ \chi _0( \frac{c\ell _0+ \alpha \delta -|t|}{\alpha \delta }) &{}\; |t| \in (c\ell _0, c\ell _0+ \alpha \delta ),\\ 0&{}\; \;t\; \in {\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } [-c\ell _0-\alpha \delta ,c\ell _0+ \alpha \delta ]\, . \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$

(41)

Consider the function ${\tilde{g}}(z)=g(z)\cdot \chi (\mathrm{Im}(z))$ and the continuous (0, 1)-form $\varphi {\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} {\bar{\partial }}{{\tilde{g}}}$ on $R_{\alpha \delta }$. The form $\varphi$ vanishes outside $Q_{\alpha \delta }^{\pm }$. Let $\varepsilon$ be a small positive number that will be chosen later. Consider the measurable (0, 1)-form $\varphi _{\varepsilon }$ on $R_{\delta }$ that equals $\varphi$ on $Q_{\alpha \delta ,\varepsilon }^{\pm }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}} \{x+iy: x\in (-{\alpha \delta \varepsilon },{\alpha \delta \varepsilon }), \pm y\in (c\ell _0, c\ell _0 + \alpha \delta )\}$ and vanishes outside this set. Extend its pullback under the conformal mapping $\omega : R^X_{\delta }\rightarrow R_{\delta }$ to a measurable (0, 1)-form on X by putting it equal to zero outside $R^X_{\delta }$. Denote the obtained form by $\varphi _{\varepsilon }^X$.

By Corollary 2.14.2 of [25] there exists a strictly subharmonic exhaustion function $\psi$ on X. The $L^2$-norm of $\varphi _{\varepsilon }$ with respect to the Euclidean metric on the complex plane does not exceed $C_2 \sqrt{\varepsilon }$ for an absolute constant $C_2$. Hence, the weighted $L^2$-norm on X of $\varphi ^X_\varepsilon$ with respect to the Kähler metric and the weight $e^{-\psi }$ (see Definition 2.6.1 of [25]) does not exceed $C_3 C_2 \sqrt{\varepsilon }$ for a constant $C_3$ that depends on $\psi$ and on the Kähler metric on the relatively compact subset $R^X_{\delta }$ of X. By Corollary 2.12.6 of [25] there exists a function $f^X$ with ${\bar{\partial }} f^X=\varphi _X$ in the weighted $L^2$-space on X with respect to the Kähler metric and the weight $e^{-\psi }$ (see Definition 2.6.1 of [25]), whose norm in this space does not exceed $C_4 C_3 C_2 \sqrt{\varepsilon }$ for a constant $C_4$ depending only on X, $\psi$, and the Kähler metric. Let $(Q_{\alpha \delta ,\varepsilon }^{\pm })^X$ be the preimages of $Q_{\alpha \delta ,\varepsilon }^{\pm }$ under $\omega$. The function $f^X$ is holomorphic on $X\setminus \big (\overline{(Q_{\alpha \delta ,\varepsilon }^{+})^X}\cup \overline{(Q_{\alpha \delta ,\varepsilon }^{-})^X}\big )$. Put ${\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^{\pm }{\mathop {=}\limits ^{def}}\{x+iy\in R_{\delta }: \pm y\in (c\ell _0 -\delta , c\ell _0 + 2\delta )\}$, and $({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^{\pm })^X=\omega ^{-1}({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^{\pm })$. Then $(Q_{\alpha \delta ,\varepsilon }^{\pm })^X$ is relatively compact in $({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^{\pm })^X$. On a relatively compact open subset of X, containing the closed subset $\overline{S_{\delta _0}} {\setminus } (({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+)^X \cup ({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-)^X)$ of X, the supremum norm of $|f^X|$ is estimated by its weighted $L^2$-norm: $|f^X|< C_5 \sqrt{\varepsilon }$ in a neighbourhood of $\overline{S_{\delta _0}} {\setminus } (({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+)^X \cup ({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-)^X)$ for a constant $C_5$ that depends on the Kähler metric, on $\psi$ and on the constants chosen before (see Theorem 2.6.4 of [25]).

On the other hand the classical Cauchy-Green formula on the complex plane provides a solution ${{\tilde{f}}}$ of the equation ${\overline{\partial }}{\tilde{f}}=\varphi _{\varepsilon }$ on the set ${\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+ \cup {\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-$. The supremum norm of the function ${\tilde{f}}$ is estimated by $C_6\sqrt{\varepsilon }$ for an absolute constant $C_6$. Let ${\tilde{f}}^X$ be the pullback of ${{\tilde{f}}}$ to $({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+)^X \cup ({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-)^X$. The function $f^X - {\tilde{f}}^X$ is holomorphic on $({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+)^X \cup ({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-)^X$ and satisfies the inequality $|f^X - {\tilde{f}}^X|<(C_5+C_6)\sqrt{\varepsilon }$ at all points of the set $({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+)^X \cup ({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-)^X$, that are close to its boundary. Hence, the inequality is satisfied on $({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+)^X \cup ({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-)^X$. As a consequence, $|f^X|<(C_5+2C_6)\sqrt{\varepsilon }$ on $({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^+)^X \cup ({\tilde{Q}}_{\delta }^-)^X$.

Choose $\varepsilon$ depending on $C_5$ and $C_6$, so that

$$\begin{aligned} |f^X|<\min \Big \{\mathrm{dist}(G,\{-1,1\}),\,\frac{1}{2}\Big \} \; \text{ on } \; S_{\sigma _0}. \end{aligned}$$

(42)

Put $\sigma =\varepsilon \alpha \delta$. Consider the smooth function $g_{\sigma }^X$ on $S_{\alpha \delta \varepsilon }=S_{\sigma }$ which equals the pullback $\tilde{g}^X= \tilde{g}\circ \omega$ on $\omega ^{-1} (R_{\alpha \delta })\cap S_{\sigma }$, and vanishes on the rest of $S_{\sigma }$. Hence, it vanishes on all circles of the bouquet except $\gamma _0$, and therefore, the monodromy of its homotopy class along each such circle is the identity. The restriction of $g_{\sigma }^X$ to $\mathring{R}_{\delta }^X\cap S_{\sigma }=\omega ^{-1}(\mathring{R}_{\delta })\cap S_{\sigma }$ represents the element $a_1^{\pm } a_2^{\pm }\ldots a_2^{\pm }\in \pi _1({\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}, (-1,1))$. Moreover, on $\big ({R}_{\delta }^X{\setminus } \mathring{R}_{\delta }^X\big )\cap S_{\sigma }$ the inequality $|g_\sigma ^X|<\frac{1}{2}$ holds, and on $S_{\sigma }{\setminus } {R}_{\delta }^X$ the mapping $g_{\sigma }^X$ vanishes. Hence, the monodromy of the homotopy class of $g_{\sigma }^X$ along $\gamma _0$ equals $a_1^{\pm } a_2^{\pm }\ldots a_2^{\pm }$. By the inequality (42) the monodromies of the homotopy class of $g_{\sigma }^X -f^X$ along all circles of the bouquet coincide with those of the homotopy class of $g_{\sigma }^X$. The function $g_{\sigma }^X -f^X$ is holomorphic on $S_{\sigma }$. We put $C_7= \frac{2 \log 2 c\alpha \varepsilon }{C}$. For each positive $\sigma < \epsilon \alpha \sigma _0$ we found no less than $\frac{1}{4} e^{\frac{C_7 \ell _0}{\sigma }}$ irreducible non-homotopic holomorphic mappings from $S_{\sigma }$ to ${\mathbb {C}}{\setminus } \{-1,1\}$. The proposition is proved. $\square$