Geometric Kernels of Proper Maps Between Non-Compact Surfaces

A map between connected $2$-manifolds has a geometric kernel if it sends a non-contractible simple loop to a null-homotopic loop. While every non-π₁-injective map between compact surfaces admits a geometric kernel, this generally fails for compact bordered or non-compact surfaces. In this paper, we use Brown's proper fundamental group to give a sufficient condition under which a degree-one map between non-compact surfaces admits a geometric kernel. Furthermore, we characterize conjugacy classes in the proper fundamental group and use this characterization to establish sufficient conditions for the existence of geometric kernels.