Unimodularity of Invariant Random Subgroups

An invariant random subgroup $H \leq G$ is a random closed subgroup whose law is invariant to conjugation by all elements of $G$. When $G$ is locally compact and second countable, we show that for every invariant random subgroup $H \leq G$ there almost surely exists an invariant measure on $G/H$. Equivalently, the modular function of $H$ is almost surely equal to the modular function of $G$, restricted to $H$. We use this result to construct invariant measures on orbit equivalence relations of measure preserving actions. Additionally, we prove a mass transport principle for discrete or compact invariant random subgroups.Comment: 23 pages, one figur

Thick hyperbolic 3-manifolds with bounded rank

We construct a geometric decomposition for the convex core of a thick hyperbolic 3-manifold M with bounded rank. Corollaries include upper bounds in terms of rank and injectivity radius on the Heegaard genus of M and on the radius of any embedded ball in the convex core of M.Comment: 170 pages, 17 figure

Unimodular measures on the space of all Riemannian manifolds

We study unimodular measures on the space $\mathcal M^d$ of all pointed Riemannian $d$-manifolds. Examples can be constructed from finite volume manifolds, from measured foliations with Riemannian leaves, and from invariant random subgroups of Lie groups. Unimodularity is preserved under weak* limits, and under certain geometric constraints (e.g. bounded geometry) unimodular measures can be used to compactify sets of finite volume manifolds. One can then understand the geometry of manifolds $M$ with large, finite volume by passing to unimodular limits. We develop a structure theory for unimodular measures on $\mathcal M^d$, characterizing them via invariance under a certain geodesic flow, and showing that they correspond to transverse measures on a foliated `desingularization' of $\mathcal M^d$. We also give a geometric proof of a compactness theorem for unimodular measures on the space of pointed manifolds with pinched negative curvature, and characterize unimodular measures supported on hyperbolic $3$-manifolds with finitely generated fundamental group.Comment: 81 page

Invariant random subgroups of semidirect products

We study invariant random subgroups (IRSs) of semidirect products $G = A \rtimes \Gamma$. In particular, we characterize all IRSs of parabolic subgroups of $\mathrm{SL}_d(\mathbb{R})$, and show that all ergodic IRSs of $\mathbb{R}^d \rtimes \mathrm{SL}_d(\mathbb{R})$ are either of the form $\mathbb{R}^d \rtimes K$ for some IRS of $\mathrm{SL}_d(\mathbb{R})$, or are induced from IRSs of $\Lambda \rtimes \mathrm{SL}(\Lambda)$, where $\Lambda < \mathbb{R}^d$ is a lattice.Comment: 16 page

Extending pseudo-Anosov maps to compression bodies

We show that a pseudo-Anosov map on a boundary component of an irreducible 3-manifold has a power that partially extends to the interior if and only if its (un)stable lamination is a projective limit of meridians. The proof is through 3-dimensional hyperbolic geometry, and involves an investigation of algebraic limits of convex cocompact compression bodies.Comment: 29 page

A finiteness theorem for hyperbolic 3-manifolds

We prove that there are only finitely many closed hyperbolic 3-manifolds with injectivity radius and first eigenvalue of the Laplacian bounded below whose fundamental groups can be generated by a given number of elements. An application to arithmetic manifolds is also given.Comment: 20 pages, to appear in Journal of the London Mathematical Societ