Related papers: Minimal generating and normally generating sets fo…

Let M be a compact, connected surface, possibly with a finite set of points removed from its interior. Let d,n be positive integers, and let N be a d-fold covering space of M. We show that the covering map induces an embedding of the n-th…

We determine a set of generators for the Brunnian braids on a general surface $M$ for $M\not=S^2$ or $\RP^2$. For the case $M=S^2$ or $\RP^2$, a set of generators for the Brunnian braids on $M$ is given by our generating set together with…

Let $M$ be a compact surface without boundary, and $n\geq 2$. We analyse the quotient group $B_n(M)/\Gamma_2(P_n(M))$ of the surface braid group $B_{n}(M)$ by the commutator subgroup $\Gamma_2(P_n(M))$ of the pure braid group $P_{n}(M)$. If…

Let M be a surface, perhaps with boundary, and either compact, or with a finite number of points removed from the interior of the surface. We consider the inclusion i: F\_n(M) --\textgreater{} M^n of the nth configuration space F\_n(M) of M…

This chapter provides a comprehensive survey of foundational results and recent advances concerning minimal generating sets for the mapping class group of a nonorientable surface, $\mathrm{Mod}(N_{g})$, and its index-two twist subgroup,…

Let $M$ be the disk or a compact, connected surface without boundary different from the sphere $S^2$ and the real projective plane $\mathbb{R}P^2$, and let $N$ be a compact, connected surface (possibly with boundary). It is known that the…

We construct the first known examples of nontrivial, normal, all pseudo-Anosov subgroups of mapping class groups of surfaces. Specifically, we construct such subgroups for the closed genus two surface and for the sphere with five or more…

We consider finite-sheeted, regular, possibly branched covering spaces of compact surfaces with boundary and the associated liftable and symmetric mapping class groups. In particular, we classify when either of these subgroups coincides…

Every smooth minimal complex algebraic surface of general type, $X$, may be mapped into a moduli space, $\MM_{c_1^2(X), c_2(X)}$, of minimal surfaces of general type, all of which have the same Chern numbers. Using the braid group and braid…

Let k>0 be an integer, let H be a minor-minimal graph in the projective plane such that every homotopically non-trivial closed curve intersects H at least k times, and let G be the planar double cover of H obtained by lifting G into the…

For $n$ at least 7 and $n$ equal to 5, we give generating sets of size 2 for the commutator subgroup of the braid group on $n$ strands. These generating sets are of the smallest possible cardinality. For $n$ equal to 4 or 6, we give…

This paper aims to generalize Artin's ideas to establish an one-to-one correspondence between the orbit braid group $B^{orb}_n(\mathbb{C},\mathbb{Z}_p)$ and a quotient of a group formed by some particular homeomorphisms of a punctured…

We describe the lower algebraic $K$-theory of the integral group ring of both the pure and full braid groups of the real projective plane $\mathbb{R}P^2$ with $3$ strings, as well as that of the integral group ring of the mapping class…

In this paper, we determine minimal generating sets for several well-known monoids of matrices over semirings. In particular, we find minimal generating sets for the monoids consisting of: all $n\times n$ boolean matrices when $n\leq 8$;…

The mixed braid groups are the subgroups of Artin braid groups whose elements preserve a given partition of the base points. We prove that the centralizer of any braid can be expressed in terms of semidirect and direct products of mixed…

The mapping class group of an orientable surface, which records its symmetries up to isotopy, plays a central role in low-dimensional topology. This chapter explores the foundational problem of determining minimal generating sets for these…

We find some sufficient conditions under which the permutational wreath product of two groups has a minimal generating set. In particular we prove that for a regular rooted tree the group of all automorphisms and the group of all…

We study $K$-theoretical aspects of the braid groups $B\_n(\mathbb{S}^{2})$ on $n$ strings of the $2$-sphere, which by results of the second two authors, are known to satisfy the Farrell-Jones fibred isomorphism conjecture~\cite{JM}. In…

The disjoint union of mapping class groups of surfaces forms a braided monoidal category $\mathcal M$, as the disjoint union of the braid groups $\mathcal B$ does. We give a concrete, and geometric meaning of the braiding $\beta_{r,s}$ in…

The minimal standardizer of a curve system on a punctured disk is the minimal braid that transforms it into a system formed only by round curves. We give an algorithm to compute it in a geometrical way. Then, we generalize this problem…