Simple length spectra as moduli for hyperbolic surfaces and rigidity of length identities (2012.05652v2)

Abstract: In this article, we revisit classical length identities enjoyed by simple closed curves on hyperbolic surfaces. We state and prove rigidity of such identities over Teichm\"uller spaces. Due to this rigidity, simple closed curves with few intersections are characterised on generic hyperbolic surfaces by their lengths. As an application, we construct a meagre set $V$ in the Teichm\"uller space of a topological surface $S$, possibly of infinite type. Then the isometry class of a (Nielsen-convex) hyperbolic structure on $S$ outside $V$ is characterised by its unmarked simple length spectrum. Namely, we show that the simple length spectra can be used as moduli for generic hyperbolic surfaces. In the case of compact surfaces, an analogous result using length spectra was obtained by Wolpert.