On the signature of a positive braid (Q6606900)

Let \(\sigma(L)\) be the signature of an oriented link \(L\). We have the inequality \(\sigma(L)\le b_1(L)\) where \(b_1(L)\) is the minimum first Betti number of any Seifert surface of \(L\). For certain classes of links, this inequality can be reversed, up to scaling factor.\N\NA positive braid on \(n+ 1\) strands is a product of positive powers of the standard braid generators \(\sigma_1,\ldots, \sigma_n\) of the braid group \(B_{n+1}\).\N\NIn this paper the authors prove the following Theorem:\N\NFor every positive braid closure \(L\) that is not an unlink, we have \N\[\N \sigma(L)\ge \frac{b_1(L)}{4}+\frac{1}{2}. \N\]