We prove a strengthened sector lemma for irreducible, finite-dimensional, locally
finite, essential, cocompact CAT(0) cube complexes under the additional hypothesis
that the complex is
hyperplane-essential; we prove that every quarterspace contains
a halfspace. In aid of this, we present simplified proofs of known results
about loxodromic isometries of the contact graph, avoiding the use of disc
diagrams.
This paper has an expository element; in particular, we collect results about cube
complexes proved by combining Ramsey’s theorem and Dilworth’s theorem. We
illustrate the use of these tricks with a discussion of the Tits alternative for cubical
groups, and ask some questions about “quantifying” statements related to rank
rigidity and the Tits alternative.