The second rational homology group of the moduli space of curves with level structures (Q655375)

Let us recall that the mapping class group \(\mathop{Mod}_g\) is the group of isotopy classes of orientation preserving homeomorphisms of a fixed closed oriented genus \(g\) surface \(\Sigma_g\). The paper under review deals with the homology of finite-index subgroups \(\Gamma\) of \(\mathop{Mod}_g\) containing the Torelli group \(\mathcal{I}_g\) of homeomorphisms that act trivially on the first homology group of \(\Sigma_g\). In view of the construction of the moduli space of smooth complex projective curves as a quotient of Teichmüller space by the action of \(\mathop{Mod}_g\), these homology groups can also be interpreted geometrically as the homology groups of finite covers of the moduli space of curves, i.e. moduli spaces of curves with level structures. The main result of the paper under review is that the second homology group of \(\Gamma\) with rational coefficients is always one-dimensional for \(g\geq 5\). In view of \textit{R. Hain}'s results [In: Current topics in complex algebraic geometry. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Math. Sci. Res. Inst. Publ. 28, 97--143 (1995; Zbl 0868.14006)] this implies the one-dimensionality of the rational Picard group of the corresponding finite covers of the moduli space of curves. For instance, this applies to moduli spaces of curves of genus \(g\) with level \(n\) structures and to the moduli space of curves of genus \(g\) with spin structures, for \(g\geq 5\). The results and the methods of the paper under review are used in the subsequent paper [\textit{A. Putman}, Duke Math. J. 161, No. 4, 623--674 (2012; Zbl 1241.30015)] to study the second cohomology group of \(\Gamma\) with integral coefficients, i.e. the integral Picard group of finite covers of \(\mathcal{M}_g\).