Algebraic \(K\)-theory of mapping class groups (Q1771126)

It is shown in this paper that the Fibered Isomorphism Conjecture (FIC) of \textit{T. Farrell} and \textit{L. Jones} [[1]: \textit{G. Carlsson} [``Bounded \(K\)-theory and the assembly map in algebraic \(K\)-theory'', in: Novikov conjectures, index theory and rigidity. Vol. 2, Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 227, 5--127 (1995; Zbl 0957.19001)] holds for some mapping class groups. The main result is stated as follows. Theorem: Let \(\Gamma\) be a pure mapping class group of genus 1. Then \(\widetilde{K}_i\left(\mathbb{Z}\Gamma\right)=0\) for all \(i\leq 1\) with two exceptions: when \(\Gamma=\Gamma^j_1\) for \(j=0,1\) there is one non-vanishing \(K\)-group, namely \(K_{-1}\left(\mathbb{Z}\Gamma\right)=\mathbb{Z}\). This theorem is proved by the study of several particular cases, using a fixed point argument from [[2]: \textit{Q. Lu}, ``Farrell cohomology of low genus pure mapping class group of an orientable surface'', Algebr. Geom. Topol. 2, 537--562 (2002; Zbl 1025.57023)] and some properties of \(\Gamma^1_1\) also from [2] as well as a result concerning the \(K\)-theory of \(\mathbb{Z}/6\) [\textit{W. Lück} and \textit{R. Stamm}, ``Computations of \(K\)- and \(L\)-theory of cocompact planar groups'', \(K\)-Theory 21, 249--292 (2000; Zbl 0979.19003)]. As a bonus result, the conjecture that for \(\Gamma\) being a torsion-free discrete group the Whitehead group \(Wh(\Gamma)\) must vanish is shown to hold for some mapping class groups as stated below, extending a result in [1]. Theorem: Let \(\Gamma\) be a torsion-free subgroup of any mapping class group, pure or full, for which FIC holds. Then \(\widetilde{K}_i\left(\mathbb{Z}\Gamma\right)=0\) for all \(i\leq 1\).