The braid groups of the projective plane. (Q1880650)

The main object of study in this paper is the short exact sequence: \[ 1\to P_{m-n}(\mathbb{R} P^2\setminus(x_1,\dots,x_n))\to P_m(\mathbb{R} P^2)\to P_n(\mathbb{R} P^2)\to 1, \] where \(P_i(X)\) denotes the pure braid group, of \(i\) strings, on \(X\). The main results are that the exact sequence does not split if \(m\geq 4\), and \(n=2,3\); there is a \(k\)-torsion element in the braid group \(B_n(\mathbb{R} P^2)\) iff \(k\mid 4n\) or \(k\mid 4(n-1)\); and the full twist braid has a \(k\)-th root iff \(k\mid 2n\) or \(k\mid 2(n-1)\).