Generalized Chillingworth classes on subsurface Torelli groups (Q2046766)

The Torelli group of a compact oriented surface of finite type with boundary is the normal subgroup of mapping classes that act trivially on homology. In this study, the Johnson homomorphism plays an important role; it determines the abelianization of the Torelli group modulo torsion. The paper under review is concerned with the Chillingworth class, which is the tensor contraction of the image of the Johnson homomorphism. The author derives a combinatorial description of the Chillingworth class for Putman's subsurface Torelli groups via winding numbers in the projective tangent bundle of the surface. Putman's subsurface Torelli groups were defined in the paper [\textit{A. Putman}, Geom. Topol. 11, 829--865 (2007; Zbl 1157.57010)], and they are useful in inductive arguments in the Torelli group. The author also proves the naturality and uniqueness properties of the map whose image is the dual of the Chillingworth classes of the subsurface Torelli groups. Moreover, she relates the Chillingworth class of the subsurface Torelli group to the partitioned Johnson homomorphism.