Uniformizing non-proper Gromov Hyperbolic Spaces

Abstract

In this paper, we extend a large part of the uniformization theory of Bonk-Heinonen-Koskela [Asterisque 2001] to length spaces that are not necessarily proper or geodesic. Among other things, we show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the quasiisometry classes of complete roughly starlike Gromov hyperbolic spaces and the quasisimilarity classes of bounded uniform spaces, which provides an affirmative solution to an open question of Bonk-Heinonen-Koskela. Our approach relies crucially on the work of V\"ais\"al\"a [Expo. Math. 2005], who investigated in depth Gromov hyperbolic spaces that are not necessarily proper or geodesic. One key new ingredient is to use the so-called (quasihyperbolic) $(c,\mu)$-quasigeodesic as a suitable substitute for quasihyperbolic geodesic.