# Translation surfaces and periods of meromorphic differentials

created by faraco on 09 Nov 2022

[BibTeX]

Published Paper

Inserted: 9 nov 2022
Last Updated: 9 nov 2022

Journal: Proceeding of London Mathematical Society
Year: 2022
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1112/plms.12432

ArXiv: 2103.01580 PDF

Abstract:

Let $S$ be an oriented surface of genus $g$ and $n$ punctures. The periods of any meromorphic differential on $S$, with respect to a choice of complex structure, determine a representation $\chi:\Gamma_{g,n} \to\mathbb C$ where $\Gamma_{g,n}$ is the first homology group of $S$. We characterize the representations that thus arise, that is, lie in the image of the period map $\textsf{Per}:\Omega\mathcal{M}_{g,n}\to \textsf{Hom}(\Gamma_{g,n},\mathbb{C})$. This generalizes a classical result of Haupt in the holomorphic case. Moreover, we determine the image of this period map when restricted to any stratum of meromorphic differentials, having prescribed orders of zeros and poles. Our proofs are geometric, as they aim to construct a translation structure on $S$ with the prescribed holonomy $\chi$. Along the way, we describe a connection with the Hurwitz problem concerning the existence of branched covers with prescribed branching data.

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