Farrell cohomology of low genus pure mapping class groups with punctures (Q1606291)

Farrell cohomology \(\widehat H^*\Gamma\) measures to what extent a group \(\Gamma\) of finite virtual cohomological dimension (vcd) fails to be of finite dimension, fails to be torsion free. Let \(\Gamma^i_g\) be the mapping class group of a genus \(g\) surface with \(i\) fixed punctures. It is well-known to be vcd in general and torsion-free for \(i\geq 2g+2\). The paper under review calculates \(\widehat H^*\Gamma^i_g\) for \(i> 0\) and \(g= 1,2,3\), giving all the details. By previous work of the author [\textit{Q. Lu}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 155, 211-235 (2001; Zbl 0964.57017)], these groups are periodic with period two. The argument uses standard methods and relies on results by \textit{F. Cohen} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 443, 6-28 (1991; Zbl 0732.57003)] and \textit{Y. Xia} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 347, 3669-3670 (1996; Zbl 0855.57013)].