Intersection-number operators for curves on discs. II (Q5948679)

According to [\textit{J. S. Birman}, Braids, links, and mapping class groups, Ann. Math. Stud. 82 (1975; Zbl 0305.57013)], the braid group \({\mathcal B}_n\) acts as (isotopy classes of) diffeomorphisms of an \(n\)-punctured disk \(D_n\). Moreover, according to [the author, Math. Z. 224, No. 2, 255-287 (1997; Zbl 0869.20025)], there is an associated action of \({\mathcal B}_n\) on a polynomial algebra \(R-\mathbb{C}[a_1,\dots,a_N]\), which allows to represent simple closed curves on \(D_n\) as elements of \(R\). Making use of these results, the present paper proves -- as its main result -- that, for any fixed \(k\in 2\mathbb{N}\), the image in \(\Aut(R)\) of each Dehn twist \(\tau\) about a simple closed curve \(\gamma\) in \(D_n\) satisfies a kind of characteristic equation, when its action is restricted to the image in \(R\) of the set of curves having geometric intersection number \(k\) with \(\gamma\). As a consequence, a new algorithm for calculating the intersection number for any pair of simple closed curves is obtained. The author points out that in Part I of the paper (yet unpublished, as far as I know) a slightly different version of the main result of the present paper is presented, but only in a particular subcase.