Geodesic Length Functions and Teichmüller Spaces

Abstract

Given a compact orientable surface with finitely many punctures $Σ$, let $\Cal S(Σ)$ be the set of isotopy classes of essential unoriented simple closed curves in $Σ$. We determine a complete set of relations for a function from $\Cal S(Σ)$ to $\bold R$ to be the geodesic length function of a hyperbolic metric with geodesic boundary and cusp ends on $Σ$. As a conse quence, the Teichmüller space of hyperbolic metrics with geodesic boundary and cusp ends on $Σ$ is reconstructed from an intrinsic $(\bold QP^1, PSL(2, \bold Z))$ structure on $\Cal S(Σ)$.