English

Generating the Johnson filtration

Geometric Topology 2015-08-12 v2 Group Theory

Abstract

For k >= 1, let Torelli_g^1(k) be the k-th term in the Johnson filtration of the mapping class group of a genus g surface with one boundary component. We prove that for all k, there exists some G_k >= 0 such that Torelli_g^1(k) is generated by elements which are supported on subsurfaces whose genus is at most G_k. We also prove similar theorems for the Johnson filtration of Aut(F_n) and for certain mod-p analogues of the Johnson filtrations of both the mapping class group and of Aut(F_n). The main tools used in the proofs are the related theories of FI-modules (due to the first author together with Ellenberg and Farb) and central stability (due to the second author), both of which concern the representation theory of the symmetric groups over Z.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1311.7150,
  title  = {Generating the Johnson filtration},
  author = {Thomas Church and Andrew Putman},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1311.7150},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

32 pages; v2: paper reorganized. Final version, to appear in Geometry and Topology

R2 v1 2026-06-22T02:16:28.979Z