We use the known convergence of loop-erased random walk to radial SLE(2) to give a new proof that the scaling limit of loop-erased random walk excursion in the upper half-plane is chordal SLE(2). Our proof relies on a version of Wilson’s algorithm for weighted graphs which is used together with a Beurling-type estimate for random walk excursion. We also establish and use the convergence of the radial SLE path to the chordal SLE path as the bulk point tends to a boundary point. In the final section we sketch how to extend our results to more general simply connected domains.

We give an example of a dominant rational self-map of the projective plane whose dynamical degree is a transcendental number.

In this paper we prove new embedding results for compactly supported deformations of CR submanifolds of Cn+d: We show that if M is a 2-pseudoconcave CR submanifold of type (n,d) in Cn+d, then any compactly supported CR deformation stays in the space of globally CR embeddable in Cn+d manifolds. This improves an earlier result, where M was assumed to be a quadratic 2-pseudoconcave CR submanifold of Cn+d. We also give examples of weakly 2-pseudoconcave CR manifolds admitting compactly supported CR deformations that are not even locally CR embeddable.

We give a complete proof of the Bers–Sullivan–Thurston density conjecture. In the light of the ending lamination theorem, it suffices to prove that any collection of possible ending invariants is realized by some algebraic limit of geometrically finite hyperbolic manifolds. The ending invariants are either Riemann surfaces or filling laminations supporting Masur domain measured laminations and satisfying some mild additional conditions. With any set of ending invariants we associate a sequence of geometrically finite hyperbolic manifolds and prove that this sequence has a convergent subsequence. We derive the necessary compactness theorem combining the Rips machine with non-existence results for certain small actions on real trees of free products of surface groups and free groups. We prove then that the obtained algebraic limit has the desired conformal boundaries and the property that none of the filling laminations is realized by a pleated surface. In order to be able to apply the ending lamination theorem, we have to prove that this algebraic limit has the desired topological type and that these non-realized laminations are ending laminations. That this is the case is the main novel technical result of this paper. Loosely speaking, we show that a filling Masur domain lamination which is not realized is an ending lamination.

Let$M$be a compact complex manifold. The corresponding Teichmüller space Teich is the space of all complex structures on$M$up to the action of the group $${{\rm Diff}_0(M)}$$ of isotopies. The mapping class group $${\Gamma:={\rm Diff}(M)/{{\rm Diff}_0(M)}}$$ acts on Teich in a natural way. An$ergodic complex structure$is a complex structure with a $${\Gamma}$$ -orbit dense in Teich. Let$M$be a complex torus of complex dimension $${\ge 2}$$ or a hyperkähler manifold with $${b_2 > 3}$$ . We prove that$M$is ergodic, unless$M$has maximal Picard rank (there are countably many such$M$). This is used to show that all hyperkähler manifolds are Kobayashi non-hyperbolic.