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For random proper simple curves from $0$ to infinity in the complex upper half-plane, the probabilities of avoiding every compact H-hull whose closure excludes zero determine the unparameterized trace law. Every point off a simple chordal curve can be connected to a real boundary interval away from zero within one side of its complement. A countable collection of thin rational polygonal tubes attached to that interval therefore recovers the complement from its avoidance indicators. Joint avoidance of finitely many tubes reduces to avoidance of their filled union. If the union blocks every path from zero to infinity the joint event is empty; otherwise filling pockets does not change the avoidance event. The inclusion-exclusion principle gives all finite indicator distributions. These determine the random complement and hence the trace. Simplicity and properness are hypotheses; the assertion is not a general determination theorem for arbitrary random closed sets.

Suppose a random proper simple curve from zero to infinity has the displayed avoidance probability for every admissible compact H-hull $A$, with fixed $\alpha >0$. Put ${\psi }_A=g_A-g_A(0)$. For another admissible hull $B$ in the image complex upper half-plane, map composition and the chain rule give $g_C^{\prime }(0)=g_B^{\prime }(0)g_A^{\prime }(0)$ for $C=A\cup {\psi }_A^{-1}(B)$. The conditional image curve therefore has avoidance probabilities $g_B^{\prime }(0{)}^{\alpha }$, exactly those of the original. Since avoidance probabilities determine a simple chordal curve law, the conditional image law agrees with the original. This is the chordal restriction property.

A Jordan domain is the bounded complementary component of a closed simple curve in the plane. The Jordan curve theorem separates the plane into this inside component and one unbounded outside component. A conformal bijection from the disc or complex upper half-plane to this simply connected domain extends to a homeomorphism of their closed conformal boundaries by the Caratheodory boundary extension theorem.

Let ${\psi }_A=g_A-g_A(0)$, and take another admissible compact H-hull $B$ in the image complex upper half-plane. Form the hull $C=A\cup {\psi }_A^{-1}(B)$, including its relative closure and filling bounded complementary components if needed. Its mapping-out function of a compact H-hull isIndeed, this composition maps the correct remaining domain onto $\mathbb{H}$, and its constant term at infinity is zero. Since ${\psi }_A(0)=0$, the chain rule givesBoth derivatives are positive by local Schwarz reflection principle and boundary orientation. Therefore the assumed avoidance formula givesThe conditioning event has positive probability because $g_A^{\prime }(0)>0$.

It remains to justify that these equalities determine the law. For a proper simple curve from $0$ to infinity, its complement has two sides, each connected to an interval of the real boundary. Any point off the curve lies in a thin polygonal tube attached to that boundary which avoids both the curve and zero; its closure, with an end cap, is an admissible compact H-hull. A countable collection of tubes with rational geometry therefore reconstructs the complement as the union of the tubes avoided by the curve.

The joint distribution of their avoidance indicators is also determined. Avoiding finitely many tubes is equivalent to avoiding the filled union when that union is admissible. If the union separates $0$ from infinity, avoidance is impossible and the joint probability is zero. Otherwise a simple curve cannot enter the bounded complementary pockets without crossing the union, so filling does not change the avoidance event. Finite joint avoidance probabilities consequently come from the same single-hull formulas; inclusion-exclusion principle supplies every finite indicator pattern. These patterns determine the random complement and hence the unparameterized simple trace.

Thus avoidance probabilities determine a simple chordal curve law, and the conditional image law above equals the original law. This proves the derivative avoidance criterion for chordal restriction, giving the chordal restriction property. Simplicity is essential to this reconstruction argument; it should not be replaced by a claim that arbitrary random closed sets are determined by these hull-avoidance tests.

The boundary assertion is interpreted at positive finite times: a chordal SLE already starts on the domain boundary, and its marked target is another boundary point. The precise conclusion in the complex upper half-plane is $\gamma (0,\infty )\subseteq \mathbb{H}$ almost surely.

For $0<\kappa \le 4$ and a fixed real $x>0$, the centered Boundary-point Bessel flow for SLE $V_t=g_t(x)-U_t$ solvesThus $R_t=V_t/\sqrt{\kappa }$ is a Bessel process driven by $-B$ of dimensionThe Hitting-zero classification for a Bessel process says that, started positively, it never hits zero when $\delta \ge 2$. For $x<0$, reflect the equation and apply the same result. Therefore every fixed nonzero boundary point has infinite swallowing time. A countable intersection gives this simultaneously for all nonzero rational boundary points.

To extend this countable conclusion to every real $x>0$, choose rational $q$ with $0<q<x$. The difference of two centered boundary solutions satisfiesso it remains positive while both flows exist. On any finite time interval, $V_t(q)$ is bounded away from zero, hence so is $V_t(x)$. Moreover $V_t(x)=x-U_t+{\int }_0^{t}2/V_s(x)ds$ remains bounded there, so the differential equation continues for the whole interval. Its uniform separation from the Loewner driving function also allows each flow map to continue as a holomorphic function on a complex neighborhood of $x$. Thus $x$ is outside $K_t$ and cannot be visited by the Loewner trace. Reflection gives the negative real axis. This uses countably many Bessel processes followed by deterministic flow comparison, rather than an uncountable union of probability-zero events.

To exclude a return to the starting point, use the boundary extension of the inverse map for a continuous Loewner trace: $g_s^{-1}$ is continuous on the closed complex upper half-plane and maps $U_s$ to $\gamma (s)$. This follows from the continuous trace theorem and the Caratheodory boundary extension theorem; it does not assume simplicity. At each deterministic rational time $s$, the Conformal Markov property of SLE makes the mapped future a fresh SLE, so its trace lies in $\mathbb{H}\cup \{0\}$ by the preceding argument. Mapping back with $g_s^{-1}$ therefore showsIf a point $q=\gamma (r)$ were revisited at $t>r$, choose rational $s\in (r,t)$ with $\gamma (s)\ne q$. Such an $s$ exists because continuity and strictly increasing half-plane capacity forbid a constant trace on an interval. But $q\in K_s\cup \mathbb{R}$, contradicting the displayed inclusion. This excludes all self-contacts, including returns to zero, and proves the simple curve property needed when discussing later swallowing times.

For $\kappa =0$, the deterministic Loewner trace is $\gamma (t)=2i\sqrt{t}$, so the conclusion follows directly. Hence the boundary-intersection threshold for SLE givesMapping to another marked simply connected domain carries positive-time points into its interior. The literal statement including the starting point is false, since $\gamma (0)$ is prescribed to be on the domain boundary.

By the Phase classification of the SLE trace, chordal SLE is a simple curve forIf the convention restricts the notation to $\kappa >0$, the range is $0<\kappa \le 4$. The degenerate case $\kappa =0$ is a deterministic vertical slit and is simple as well.

The trace of ${\mathrm{SLE}}_{\kappa }$ is simple for $0<\kappa \le 4$, has self-intersections without being space-filling for $4<\kappa <8$, and is space-filling for $\kappa \ge 8$. The thresholds arise from the Boundary-point Bessel flow for SLE and estimates for the Loewner chain near its driving point.