From pseudo-Anosov flows on graph manifolds to totally periodic flows

Abstract

We show that every pseudo-Anosov flow on a graph manifold is almost equivalent, i.e. orbit equivalent in the complement of a finite collection of closed orbits, to a totally periodic pseudo-Anosov flow or a suspension Anosov flow. The proof is via a hands-on construction of a partial Birkhoff section with genus one components that misses finitely many closed orbits. When combined with previous work of the author, this implies that every transitive Anosov flow on a graph manifold with orientable stable and unstable foliations is almost equivalent to a suspension Anosov flow.