Holomorphic realizations of pairs of foliations on Riemann surfaces

Abstract

Let $X$ be a hyperbolic Riemann surface and let $μ$ and $ν$ be laminations on $X$ homotopic to measured foliations with finite Dirichlet integral. We prove that $μ$ and $ν$ are filling if and only if there exists a homeomorphism to another Riemann surface $f:X\to Y$ and an integrable holomorphic quadratic differential $q$ on $Y$, unique up to the natural equivalence, such that the push-forward laminations are homotopic to the horizontal and vertical foliations of $q$ respectively. This extends a classical theorem of Gardiner-Masur from closed surfaces to arbitrary surfaces. As well, the dual $\mathbb{R}$-tree interpretation yields the solution of an asymptotic Plateau problem for minimal surfaces in a product of two $\mathbb{R}$-trees. We construct examples such that $f:X\to Y$ is not homotopic to a quasiconformal map, and we present sufficient conditions that ensure it is. We deduce applications to main inequalities for locally quasiconformal maps, harmonic maps between surfaces, and big mapping class groups.