No label defined (Q4248087)

Let \({\mathcal M}_g\) be the mapping class group (i.e. the group of the isotopy classes of orientation preserving homeomorphisms) of a 3-dimensional handlebody \(B_g\) of genus \(g>0\). There is a natural embedding of \({\mathcal M}_g\) into the mapping class group of the surface \(\partial B\). A finite set of generators for \({\mathcal M}_g\) was obtained by \textit{S. Suzuki} [Can. J. Math. 29, 111-124 (1977; Zbl 0339.57001)]. The main result of the paper is an explicit finite presentation of \({\mathcal M}_g\). Applying the main idea of \textit{A. Hatcher} and \textit{W. Thurston} [Topology 19, 221-237 (1980; Zbl 0447.57005)] the author constructs a 2-dimensional cut-system complex \(X\) of the handlebody, and proves that \(X\) is connected and simply-connected. \({\mathcal M}_g\) acts on \(X\) by simplicial transformations and has only a finite number of orbits. There are two interesting consequences from the main result: (1) \({\mathcal M}_g\) (\(g>1\)) can be generated by five elements; (2) the abelianized mapping class group \({\mathcal M}_g / [{\mathcal M}_g, {\mathcal M}_g]\) is isomorphic to \({\mathbb Z}_2 \oplus {\mathbb Z}_2\) for \(g=2\) and to \({\mathbb Z}_2\) for \(g > 2\).