English

Generating the mapping class group of a punctured surface by involutions

Geometric Topology 2008-09-01 v2 Group Theory

Abstract

Let Σg,b\Sigma_{g,b} denote a closed orientable surface of genus gg with bb punctures and let Mod(Σg,b)\rm Mod(\Sigma_{\textit{g,b}}) denote its mapping class group. In [Luo] Luo proved that if the genus is at least 3, Mod(Σg,b)\rm Mod(\Sigma_{\textit{g,b}}) is generated by involutions. He also asked if there exists a universal upper bound, independent of genus and the number of punctures, for the number of torsion elements/involutions needed to generate Mod(Σg,b)\rm Mod(\Sigma_{\textit{g,b}}). Brendle and Farb [BF] gave an answer in the case of g3,b=0g\geq 3, b=0 and g4,b=1g\geq 4, b=1, by describing a generating set consisting of 6 involutions. Kassabov showed that for every bb Mod(Σg,b)\rm Mod(\Sigma_{\textit{g,b}}) can be generated by 4 involutions if g8g\geq 8, 5 involutions if g6g\geq 6 and 6 involutions if g4g\geq 4. We proved that for every bb Mod(Σg,b)\rm Mod(\Sigma_{\textit{g,b}}) can be generated by 4 involutions if g7g\geq 7 and 5 involutions if g5g\geq 5.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0807.0916,
  title  = {Generating the mapping class group of a punctured surface by involutions},
  author = {Naoyuki Monden},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0807.0916},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

18 pages, 11 figures. E-mail address is changed

R2 v1 2026-06-21T10:57:51.653Z