The genus 2 Torelli group is not finitely generated (Q1067258)

Let \(F_ g\) be a closed orientable surface of genus g and let \(M_ g\) be its mapping class group. The Torelli group \(T_ g\) is the subgroup of \(M_ g\) consisting of all mapping classes that act trivially on the first homology \(H_ 1(F_ g)\). \textit{D. Johnson} showed that \(T_ g\) is finitely generated for \(g\geq 3\) [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 118, 423-442 (1983; Zbl 0549.57006)]. In contrast to this it is shown in the present paper that \(T_ 2\) is not finitely generated. The basic difference between \(g=2\) and \(g\geq 3\) lies in the following observation: for \(g=2\) the subgroup \(D_ g\) of \(T_ g\) generated by Dehn twists about bounding simple closed curves is equal to \(T_ g\), whereas for \(g>3\) it has infinite index in \(T_ g\). It remains open whether or not \(D_ g\) is finitely generated for \(g\geq 3\).