Complex hyperbolic hyperplane complements

Abstract

We study spaces obtained from a complete finite volume complex hyperbolic n-manifold M by removing a compact totally geodesic complex (n-1)-submanifold. The main result is that the fundamental group of M-S is relatively hyperbolic, relative to fundamental groups of the ends of M-S, and M-S admits a complete finite volume A-regular Riemannian metric of negative sectional curvature. It follows that for n>1 the fundamental group of M-S satisfies Mostow-type Rigidity, has finite asymptotic dimension and rapid decay property, satisfies Borel and Baum-Connes conjectures, is co-Hopf and residually hyperbolic, has no nontrivial subgroups with property (T), and has finite outer automorphism group. Furthermore, if M is compact, then the fundamental group of M-S is biautomatic and satisfies Strong Tits Alternative.