Virtual braids and permutations (Q2656661)

It is known that the study of the automorphisms of braid groups is based on ideas of \textit{E. Artin} [Ann. Math. (2) 48, 643--649 (1947; Zbl 0030.17802)], who suggested to study the homomorphisms from braid groups \(B_{n}\) to symmetric groups \(S_{m}\) for various \(n\) and \(m\). In [\textit{V. Ya. Lin}, in: Itogi Nauki Tekh., Ser. Algebra Topologiya Geom. 17, 159--227 (1979; Zbl 0434.20020); \textit{V. Lin}, ``Braids and permutations'', Preprint, \url{arXiv/abs/math/0404528}] and in [\textit{F. Castel}, Geometric representations of the braid groups. Paris: Société Mathématique de France (SMF) (2016; Zbl 1441.20001)] , the homomorphisms from \(B_{n}\) to \(S_{m}\) for \(n\geq m\) and the homomorphisms from \(B_{n}\) to \(B_{m}\) for \(n\geq m\) and \(n\geq 6\) are studied. In [\textit{J. L. Dyer} and \textit{E. K. Grossman}, Am. J. Math. 103, 1151--1169 (1981; Zbl 0476.20026)], the automorphisms of \(B_{n}\) are determined using results from [\textit{E. Artin}, Ann. Math. (2) 48, 643--649 (1947; Zbl 0030.17802)]. The virtually braid groups \(VB_{n}\) are introduced in [\textit{L. H. Kauffman}, Eur. J. Comb. 20, No. 7, 663--690 (1999; Zbl 0938.57006)] and have interpretations in terms of diagrms and in terms of braids in thickened surfaces. However, their internal structure is not studied sufficiently. For example, the word problem is studied and merely the lower central series. [\textit{P. Bellingeri} et al., Pac. J. Math. 283, No. 2, 271--287 (2016; Zbl 1375.20042); \textit{V. G. Bardakov} and \textit{P. Bellingeri}, Topology Appl. 156, No. 6, 1071--1082 (2009; Zbl 1196.20044)], but it is not known whether these groups have a solution to the conjugacy problem or whether they are linear. In this paper, the virtually braid groups are studied and results in the same style as for the braid groups are proved. Namely for \(n,\,m\in \mathbb{N}\) such that \(n\geq 5,\,m\geq 2,\,n\geq m\): \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] all homomorphisms from \(VB_{n}\) to \(S_{m}\), \item[(2)] all homomorphisms from \(S_{n}\) to \(VB_{m}\) and \item[(3)] all homomorphisms from \(VB_{n}\) to \(VB_{m}\) are determined. \end{itemize} To obtain these results, the authors mention the presentation in generators and defining relations of virtually braid groups and define two epimorphisms \(\pi _{P},\,\pi _{K}\,:\,VB_{n}\,\longrightarrow\,S_{n}\) with kernels \(VP_{n}, KV_{n}\) respectively, two automprphisms \(\zeta _{1},\,\zeta _{2}\,:\,VB_{n}\,\longrightarrow\,VB_{n}\) and a homomorphism \(\iota\,:\,S_{n}\,\longrightarrow\,VB_{n}\) which play a main role for their arguments. Here, it is not possible to quote the presentation of \(VB_{n}\) and the definitions of these homomorphisms, and we refer to the paper. Theorem 2.1. Let \(n,\,m\in \mathbb{N}\) such that \(n\geq 5,\,m\geq 2,\,n\geq m\), and let \(\psi\,:\,VB_{n}\,\longrightarrow\,S_{m}\) be a homomorphism. Then, up to conjugation, one of the following possibilities holds. \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] The image of \(\psi\) is abelian, \item[(2)] \(n\,=\,m\) and \(\psi\in \{\,\pi _{K},\,\pi _{P}\,\}\), \item[(3)] \(n\,=\,m\,=\,6\) and \(\psi\in \{\,\nu _{6}\circ \pi _{K},\,\nu _{6}\circ \pi _{P}\,\}\). \end{itemize} Theorem 2.2. Let \(n,\,m\in \mathbb{N}\) such that \(n\geq 5,\,m\geq 2,\,n\geq m\), and let \(\phi\,:\,S_{n}\,\longrightarrow\,VB_{m}\) be a homomorphism. Then, up to conjugation, one of the following possibilities holds. \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] The image of \(\phi\) is abelian, \item[(2)] \(n\,=\,m\) and \(\phi\,=\,\iota\). \item[(3)] \(n\,=\,m\,=\,6\) and \(\phi\,=\,\iota \circ \nu_{6}\). \end{itemize} Theorem 2.3. Let \(n,\,m\in \mathbb{N}\) such that \(n\geq 5,\,m\geq 2,\,n\geq m\), and let \(\psi\,:\,VB_{n}\,\longrightarrow\,VB_{m}\) be a homomorphism. Then, up to conjugation, one of the following possibilities holds. \begin{itemize} \item[(1)] The image of \(\psi\) is abelian, \item[(2)] \(n\,=\,m\) and \(\psi\in \{\,\iota\circ \pi {K},\,\iota\circ \pi _{P}\,\}\), \item[(3)] \(n\,=\,m\,=\,6\) and \(\psi\in \{\,\iota \circ\nu _{6}\circ \pi _{K},\,\iota\circ\nu _{6}\circ \pi _{P}\,\}\). \item[(4)] \(n\,=\,m\) and \(\psi\in \{\,id,\,\zeta _{1},\,\zeta _{2},\,\zeta _{1}\circ \zeta _{2}\,\}\,\,=\,\langle\,\zeta _{1},\,\zeta _{2}\,\}\). \end{itemize} Corollary 2.4. Let \(n\in \mathbb{N},\,n\geq 5\). Then \(VB_{n}\) is Hopfian and co-Hopfian. Corollary 2.5. Let \(n\in \mathbb{N},\,n\geq 5\). Then \(Out(VB_{n})\) is isomorphic to \(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\times \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\). Corollary 2.7. Let \(n\in \mathbb{N},\,n\geq 5\). Then the subgroups \(VP_{n}, KV_{n}\) are characteristic subgroups of \(VB_{n}\). Notice that \(\nu _{6}\) is an automorphism of \(S_{6}\) and that the different treatment for \(n\,=\,m\,=\,6\) is necessary and refers back to the fact that only for \(n\,=\,6\) the \(\operatorname{Out}(S_{n})\) is not trivial. As pointed out by theauthors, although the motivation comes from the braid groups, their study is totally independ from the works related to the braid groups mentioned above.