Connectivity of complexes of separating curves

We prove that the separated curve complex of a closed orientable surface of genus g is (g-3)-connected. We also obtain a connectivity property for a separated curve complex of the open surface that is obtained by removing a finite set from a closed one, but it is then assumed that the removed set is endowed with a partition and that the separating curves respect that partition. These connectivity statements have implications for the algebraic topology of the moduli space of curves.Comment: 8 p. This version to be published in Groups, Geometry and Dynamic

Mapping Class Groups and Moduli Spaces of Curves

This is a survey paper that also contains some new results. It will appear in the proceedings of the AMS summer research institute on Algebraic Geometry at Santa Cruz.Comment: We expanded section 7 and rewrote parts of section 10. We also did some editing and made some minor corrections. latex2e, 46 page

The fine structure of Kontsevich-Zorich strata for genus 3

We give a description of the Kontsevich-Zorich strata for genus 3 in terms of root system data. For each non-open stratum we obtain a presentation of its orbifold fundamental group.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure

Curves with prescribed symmetry and associated representations of mapping class groups

Let C be a complex smooth projective algebraic curve endowed with an action of a finite group G such that the quotient curve has genus at least 3. We prove that if the G-curve C is very general for these properties, then the natural map from the group algebra QG to the algebra of Q-endomorphisms of its Jacobian is an isomorphism. We use this to obtain (topological) properties regarding certain virtual linear representations of a mapping class group. For example, we show that the connected component of the Zariski closure of such a representation acts Q-irreducibly in a G-isogeny space of H^1(C; Q)and with image often a Q-almost simple group

Compactifications defined by arrangements II: locally symmetric varieties of type IV

We define a new class of completions of locally symmetric varieties of type IV which interpolates between the Baily-Borel compactification and Mumford's toric compactifications. An arithmetic arrangement in a locally symmetric variety of type IV determines such a completion canonically. This completion admits a natural contraction that leaves the complement of the arrangement untouched. The resulting completion of the arrangement complement is very much like a Baily-Borel compactification: it is the proj of an algebra of meromorphic automorphic forms. When that complement has a moduli space interpretation, then what we get is often a compactification obtained by means of geometric invariant theory. We illustrate this with several examples: moduli spaces of polarized $K3$ and Enriques surfaces and the semi-universal deformation of a triangle singularity. We also discuss the question when a type IV arrangement is definable by an automorphic form.Comment: The section on arrangements on tube domains has beeen expanded in order to make a connection with a conjecture of Gritsenko and Nikulin. Also added: a list of notation and some references. Finally some typo's corrected and a few minor changes made in notatio