Symbolic dynamics for the Teichmueller flow

Abstract

Let Q be a component of a stratum of abelian or quadratic differentials on an oriented surface of genus $g\geq 0$ with $m\geq 0$ punctures and $3g-3+m\geq 2$. We construct a subshift of finite type $(\Omega,\sigma)$ and a Borel suspension of $(\Omega,\sigma)$ which admits a finite-to-one semi-conjugacy into the Teichmueller flow $\Phi^t$ on Q. This is used to show that the $\Phi^t$-invariant Lebesgue measure on Q is the unique measure of maximal entropy.