Infinite discrete group actions

Abstract

The nature of this paper is expository. The purpose is to present the fundamental material concerning actions of infinite discrete groups on the n-sphere and pseudo-Riemannian space forms based on the works of Gehring, Martin and Kulkarni and provide appropriate examples. Actions on the n-sphere split it into ordinary and limit sets. Assuming, additionally, that a group acting on the n-sphere has a certain convergence property, this thesis includes conditions for the existence of a homeomorphism between the limit set and the set of Freudenthal ends, as well as topological and quasiconformal conjugacy between convergence and Mobius groups. Since the certain pseudo-Riemannian space forms are diffeomorphic to non-compact spaces, the work of Hambleton and Pedersen gives conditions for the extension of discrete co-compact group actions on pseudo-Riemannian space forms to actions on the sphere. An example of such an extension is described.