A minimal generating set of the level 2 mapping class group of a non-orientable surface (Q2927889)

Let \(N_g\) be a non-orientable surface of genus \(g\) and \(\mathcal M(N_g)\) the mapping class group of \(N_g\). There is a natural map from \(\mathcal M(N_g)\) onto the subgroup of \(Aut(H_1(N_g; Z_2))\) of the elements which preserve the mod 2 intersection form. The kernel of this map is denoted by \(\Gamma_2(N_g)\) and it is called \textit{the level 2 mapping class group of \(\mathcal M(N_g)\)}. In \textit{B. Szepietowski} [Kodai Math. J. 36, No. 1, 1--14 (2013; Zbl 1269.57007), {Theorem 3.2, remark 3.10}] a finite set of generators for the group \(\Gamma_2(N_g)\) is provided. The paper under review uses the work of Szepietowski to show that there is a subset of the set of generators above which is a minimal generating set for \(\Gamma_2(N_g)\). The main results of the paper are:NEWLINENEWLINE Theorem 1.2: When \(g\geq 4\), \(\Gamma_2(N_g)\) is generated by the following two types of elements:NEWLINENEWLINE (i) \(Y_{i;j}\) for \(i\in \{1,,,,,g-1\}\), \(j\in \{1,...,g\}\) and \(i\neq j\);NEWLINENEWLINE (ii) \(T^2_{1,j,k,l}\) for \(1<j<k<l\). andNEWLINENEWLINE{Corollary 1.2} : When \(g\geq 4\), the set given in the above Theorem 1.2 is a minimal generating set for \(\Gamma_2(N_g)\).NEWLINENEWLINEIn order to prove Corollary 1.2 the authors also compute the first homology group of \(\Gamma_2(N_g)\) with integral coefficient, which is interesting in its own right. Namely:NEWLINENEWLINE{Theorem 1.4} : When \(n\geq 4\), \(H_1(\Gamma_2(N_g); \mathbb Z)\cong (\mathbb Z/2\mathbb Z)^{{g\choose 3}+{g\choose 2}}\).NEWLINENEWLINEThe proofs are not easy and the mod 2 Johnson homomorphism plays an important rôle.