On Burau's representations at roots of unity (Q2248882)

The results of the paper are motivated by some conjectures of Squier concerning the kernel of Burau's representations of the braid groups at roots of unity. Let \(B_{k}\) denote the braid group on \(k\) strands with the standard generators \(g_{1},g_{2},...,g_{k-1}\) and let \(B_{k}[n]\) be the subgroup of \(B_{k}\) which the normal closure of the subgroup generated by the powers \(g_{j}^{n},\) \(1\leq j\leq k-1.\) The first theorem proven by the authors states that the intersection of \(B_{k}[2n]\) over any infinite set of integers \(n\) is trivial. This result can be considered as a strengthened form of a conjecure of \textit{C. C. Squier} cited in [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 90, 199--202 (1984; Zbl 0542.20022)]. Furthermore, it is shown that the image of Burau's representation of \(B_{3}\) is either a finite group, for a few roots of unity, or a finite extension of a triangle group. The methods of proof are geometric.