Connectivity of the branch locus of moduli space of rational maps

Abstract

Milnor proved that the moduli space ${\rm M}_{d}$ of rational maps of degree $d \geq 2$ has a complex orbifold structure of dimension $2(d-1)$. Let us denote by ${\mathcal S}_{d}$ the singular locus of ${\rm M}_{d}$ and by ${\mathcal B}_{d}$ the branch locus, that is, the equivalence classes of rational maps with non-trivial holomorphic automorphisms. Milnor observed that we may identify ${\rm M}_2$ with ${\mathbb C}^2$ and, within that identification, that ${\mathcal B}_{2}$ is a cubic curve; so ${\mathcal B}_{2}$ is connected and ${\mathcal S}_{2}=\emptyset$. If $d \geq 3$, then ${\mathcal S}_{d}={\mathcal B}_{d}$. We use simple arguments to prove the connectivity of it.