Closed Teichmueller geodesics in the thin part of moduli space

Abstract

Let S be an oriented surface of genus g with m punctures. If 3g-3+m is at least 4 then we construct for every compact subset K of moduli space a closed Teichmueller geodesic not intersecting K.

Material reorganized. Section 3 now contained in arXiv:math/0510116 (published version). Section 4 moved to arXiv:0912.0137