Hyperbolic Groups and Non-Compact Real Algebraic Curves

Abstract

In this paper we study the spaces of non-compact real algebraic curves, i.e. pairs $(P,\tau )$, where $P$ is a compact Riemann surface with a finite number of holes and punctures and $\tau :P\to P$ is an anti-holomorphic involution. We describe the uniformisation of non-compact real algebraic curves by Fuchsian groups. We construct the spaces of non-compact real algebraic curves and describe their connected components. We prove that any connected component is homeomorphic to a quotient of a finite-dimensional real vector space by a discrete group and determine the dimensions of these vector spaces.

9 pages, 5 figures