A generating function of the number of homomorphisms from a surface group into a finite group

A generating function of the number of homomorphisms from the fundamental group of a compact oriented or non-orientable surface without boundary into a finite group is obtained in terms of an integral over a real group algebra. We calculate the number of homomorphisms using the decomposition of the group algebra into irreducible factors. This gives a new proof of the classical formulas of Frobenius, Schur, and Mednykh.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure. Prepared in AMS-LaTe

Entropy of random coverings and 4D quantum gravity

We discuss the counting of minimal geodesic ball coverings of $n$-dimensional riemannian manifolds of bounded geometry, fixed Euler characteristic and Reidemeister torsion in a given representation of the fundamental group. This counting bears relevance to the analysis of the continuum limit of discrete models of quantum gravity. We establish the conditions under which the number of coverings grows exponentially with the volume, thus allowing for the search of a continuum limit of the corresponding discretized models. The resulting entropy estimates depend on representations of the fundamental group of the manifold through the corresponding Reidemeister torsion. We discuss the sum over inequivalent representations both in the two-dimensional and in the four-dimensional case. Explicit entropy functions as well as significant bounds on the associated critical exponents are obtained in both cases.Comment: 54 pages, latex, no figure

On the number of optimal surfaces

Let X be a closed oriented Riemann surface of genus > 1 of constant negative curvature -1. A surface containing a disk of maximal radius is an optimal surface. This paper gives exact formulae for the number of optimal surfaces of genus > 3 up to orientation-preserving isometry. We show that the automorphism group of such a surface is always cyclic of order 1,2,3 or 6. We also describe a combinatorial structure of nonorientable hyperbolic optimal surfaces.Comment: This is the version published by Geometry & Topology Monographs on 29 April 200