Random walks on hyperbolic groups and their Riemann surfaces

Abstract

We investigate invariants for random elements of different hyperbolic groups. We provide a method, using Cayley graphs of groups, to compute the probability distribution of the minimal length of a random word, and explicitly compute the drift in different cases, including the braid group $B_3$. We also compute in this case the return probability. The action of these groups on the hyperbolic plane is investigated, and the distribution of a geometric invariant, the hyperbolic distance, is given. These two invariants are shown to be related by a closed formula.

29 pages, 8 figures