A lantern lemma (Q1855208)

Let \(S\) be an orientable surface and \(\text{Mod}(S)\) the mapping class group of \(S\) (i.e., the group of orientation preserving self-homeomorphisms of \(S\), modulo isotopy). In [Invent. Math. 135, 523-633 (2002; Zbl 0978.57014)], \textit{N. V. Ivanov} and \textit{J. D. McCarty} show the existence of an interesting interplay between the algebraic and topological aspects of \(\text{Mod}(S)\), by proving the algebraic characterization of topological reflectiveness, disjointness relation and braid relation between Dehn twists (as far as these topological relations are concerned, see, for example, \textit{N. V. Ivanov} [Mapping class groups (North-Holland, Amsterdam) (2002; Zbl 1002.57001)]). \noindent The present paper faces -- and positively solves -- the problem of the existence of a similar characterization of the lantern relation, which is a relation between Dehn twists about curves which lie on a sphere with four punctures (see \textit{M. Dehn} [Papers on group theory and topology (Springer-Verlag, New York) (1987)] and \textit{D. L. Johnson} [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 75, 119-125 (1979; Zbl 0407.57003)]). Furthermore, the author makes use of results proven by \textit{A. Ishida} [Proc. Japan Acad. Ser. A Math. Sci. 72, 240-241 (1996; Zbl 0883.57016)] and \textit{H. Hamidi-Tehrani} [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 2, 1155-1178 (2002; Zbl 1023.57001)] in order to obtain an analogue characterization of another relation involving multitwists, i.e., the 2-chain relation. Note that the paper cited last independently yields similar results.