On the center of the group of quasi-isometries of the real line

Abstract

Let $QI(\mathbb{R})$ denote the group of all quasi-isometries $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}.$ Let $Q_+( \text{and}~ Q_-)$ denote the subgroup of $QI(\mathbb{R})$ consisting of elements which are identity near $-\infty$ (resp. $+\infty$). We denote by $QI^+(\mathbb R)$ the index $2$ subgroup of $QI(\mathbb R)$ that fixes the ends $+\infty, -\infty$. We show that $QI^+(\mathbb R)\cong Q_+\times Q_-$. Using this we show that the center of the group $QI(\mathbb{R})$ is trivial.