Embedded annuli and Jones' conjecture (Q488581)

This short paper gives an alternative proof to that of \textit{I. A. Dynnikov} and \textit{M. V. Prasolov} [Trans. Mosc. Math. Soc. 2013, 97--144 (2013; Zbl 1307.57004); translation from Tr. Mosk. Mat. O.-va 74, No. 1, 115--173 (2013)] for Jones' inequality relating the spreads in algebraic length and minimal braid index between two closed braids of the same topological type, with good illustrations and references to significant applications of this result. The authors' proof employs Kawamuro's reformulation of the problem (Proposition 3.2) and demonstrates that after appropriate stabilizations of opposite parity and braid isotopy any two such braids cobound embedded annuli matching each of their components.