On the complexity of braids. (Q2478601)

Summary: We define a measure of ``complexity'' of a braid which is natural with respect to both an algebraic and a geometric point of view. Algebraically, we modify the standard notion of the length of a braid by introducing generators \(\Delta_{ij}\), which are Garside-like half-twists involving strings \(i\) through \(j\), and by counting powered generators \(\Delta_{ij}^k\) as \(\log(|k|+1)\) instead of simply \(|k|\). The geometrical complexity is some natural measure of the amount of distortion of the \(n\) times punctured disk caused by a homeomorphism. Our main result is that the two notions of complexity are comparable. This gives rise to a new combinatorial model for the Teichmüller space of an \(n+1\) times punctured sphere. We also show how to recover a braid from its curve diagram in polynomial time. The key rôle in the proofs is played by a technique introduced by \textit{I. Agol, J. Hass} and \textit{W. Thurston} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 358, No. 9, 3821-3850 (2006; Zbl 1098.57003)].