On the asymptotic behavior of complex earthquakes and Teichmüller disks

Abstract

Given a hyperbolic surface and a simple closed geodesic on it, complex-twists along the curve produce a holomorphic family of deformations in Teichmüller space, degenerating to the Riemann surface where it is pinched. We show there is a corresponding Teichmüller disk such that the two are strongly asymptotic, in the Teichmüller metric, around the noded Riemann surface. We establish a similar comparison with plumbing deformations that open the node.

19 pages, to appear in a Contemp. Math. proceedings