If G is a group, a pseudocharacter f: G-->R is a function which is "almost" a
homomorphism. If G admits a nontrivial pseudocharacter f, we define the space
of ends of G relative to f and show that if the space of ends is complicated
enough, then G contains a nonabelian free group. We also construct a
quasi-action by G on a tree whose space of ends contains the space of ends of G
relative to f. This construction gives rise to examples of "exotic"
quasi-actions on trees.Comment: Published by Geometry and Topology at
http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/gt/GTVol9/paper26.abs.htm