Trees, length spectra for rational maps via barycentric extensions, and Berkovich spaces

In this paper, we study the dynamics of degenerating sequences of rational maps on Riemann sphere $\hat{\mathbb{C}}$ using $\mathbb{R}$-trees. Given a sequence of degenerating rational maps, we give two constructions for limiting dynamics on $\mathbb{R}$-trees: one geometric and one algebraic. The geometric construction uses the ultralimit of rescalings of barycentric extensions of rational maps, while the algebraic construction uses the Berkovich space of complexified Robinson's field. We show the two approaches are equivalent. The limiting dynamics on the $\mathbb{R}$-tree are analogues to isometric group actions on $\mathbb{R}$-trees studied in Kleinian groups and Teichmuller theory. We use the limiting map to classify hyperbolic components of rational maps that admit degeneracies with bounded length spectra (multipliers).