Non-Abelian number theory and the structure of curves on surfaces

Abstract

In this note we study numerically the combinatorics of curves and geodesics on the torus with one boundary component. A potential computational difficulty is avoided by counting inside specific orbits of the mapping class group up to a certain length, either geometric or combinatorial. Some cases are rigurolosly determined and the Euler totient function emerges. More complicated orbits are computed to suggest an array of formulae continuing to involve the Euler totient function. We formulate six precise conjectures. These include a novel study of an "inverse" function of the Mirzakhani's asymptotics. The geometric part of our study was motivated by the rationality aspect of these asymptotics.