On laminar groups, Tits alternatives and convergence group actions on 𝑆2

Abstract

Following previous work of the second author, we establish more properties of groups of circle homeomorphisms which admit invariant laminations. In this paper, we focus on a certain type of such groups, so-called pseudo-fibered groups, and show that many 3-manifold groups are examples of pseudo-fibered groups. We then prove that torsion-free pseudo-fibered groups satisfy a Tits alternative. We conclude by proving that a purely hyperbolic pseudo-fibered group acts on the 2-sphere as a convergence group. This leads to an interesting question if there are examples of pseudo-fibered groups other than 3-manifold groups.