Every mapping class group is generated by 6 involutions (Q1879662)

Let Mod\(_{g,b}\) denote the mapping class group of a connected orientable surface of genus of \(g\) with \(b\) punctures. Using a version of a lemma of Birman which says that the Dehn twist about any nonseparating simple closed curve on a closed oriented surface of genus \(g \geq 1\) can be written as a product of two torsion elements, the authors show that the group Mod\(_{g,0}\) is generated by three torsion elements, answering (part of) a question of Luo [\textit{F. Luo}, arXiv:math.GT/0004048 (2000)]. Next, they show how to write the Dehn twist about any nonseparating simple closed curve as a product of four involutions. By using a generating set of Lickorish consisting of an element of order \(g\) and three Dehn twists and by making use of the lantern relation, it is shown that Mod\(_{g,b}\) can be generated by six involutions for \(g \geq 3\), \(b = 0\), and for \(g \geq 4\), \(b = 1\). These results were improved further thereafter; the mapping class group can be generated by two torsion elements [\textit{M. Korkmaz}, arXiv:math.GT/0309299 (2003)] and by four involutions [\textit{M. Kassabov}, arXiv:math.GT/0311455 (2003)].