Effective finite generation for \([\mathrm{IA}_n,\mathrm{IA}_n]\) and the Johnson kernel (Q6062659): Difference between revisions

Let \(F_n\) denote the free group on \(n\) generators, and let \(IA_n\) be the subgroup of \( \operatorname{Aut}F_n\) consisting of automorphisms acting trivially on the abelianization of \(F_n\). The group \(IA_n\) is often called the Torelli subgroup of \( \operatorname{Aut}F_n\). It is known to behave similarly to \(\mathcal{I}_n^{1}\), where \(\mathcal{I}_n^{b}\) is the subgroup of \( \operatorname{Mod}_n^b\), the mapping class group of an orientable surface \(\Sigma_n^b\) of genus \(n\) with \(b\) boundary components, consisting of elements acting trivially on \(H_1(\Sigma_n^b,\mathbb{Z})\). \textit{W. Magnus} [Acta Math. 64, 353--367 (1935; Zbl 0012.05405)] proved that \( \operatorname{Aut}F_n\) is finitely generated for all \(n\geq 2\). \textit{D. Johnson} [Ann. Math. (2) 118, 423--442 (1983; Zbl 0549.57006)] proved that \(\mathcal{I}_n^{b}\) is finitely generated for \(n\geq 3\). In this paper, the authors consider the cases \(b=0,1\) and show that \([IA_n,IA_n]\) is finitely generated and construct an explicit finite generating set. They also describe generating sets for two different subgroups of \(\mathcal{I}_n^{b}\), the commutator subgroup \([\mathcal{I}_n^{b},\mathcal{I}_n^{b}]\) and the Johnson kernel \(\mathcal{K}_n^{b}\).