Cutting and pasting in the Torelli subgroup of \(\mathrm{Out}(F_n)\) (Q7001332)

An element of the mapping class group of a surface \(\Sigma_{g,b}\) with genus \(g\) and \(b\) boundary components induces an automorphism on the homology group \(H_1\left(\Sigma_{g,b};\mathbb{Z}\right)\). For \(b\in\{0,1\}\), the Torelli group is the kernel of this group action. There are different ways that the definition of the Torelli group can be extended to \(b\geq 2\). The definition of interest in this paper was defined by \textit{A. Putman} [Geom. Topol. 11, 829--865 (2007; Zbl 1157.57010)].\N\NDefine the 3-manifold \(M_{n,b}\) to be the connected sum of \(n\) copies of \(S^1\times S^2\) with \(b\) open 3-discs removed. The fundamental group of this manifold is \(F_n\), the free group on \(n\) letters. The manifold \(M_{n,b}\) provides a geometric model for studying \(\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\), the group of outer automorphisms on \(F_n\), analogous to the role that \(\Sigma_{g,b}\) plays in studying its mapping class group.\N\NIn this paper, Landgraf uses each \(M_{n,b}\) to define a `Torelli group with boundary' in \(\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\). The definition used is such that the groups behave nicely under inclusion of \(M_{n,b}\) into a closed manifold \(M_{m,0}\). This enables the use of inductive arguments by cutting along disjoint embedded 2-spheres. The author establishes a version of the Birman Exact Sequence that holds with the chosen definitions.\N\NThese Torelli groups are shown to be finitely generated, with an explicit normal generating set given that reduces, in the boundary-free case, to the set of generators constructed by \textit{W. Magnus} [Acta Math. 64, 353--367 (1935; Zbl 0012.05405)]. The rank of the abelianization of the Torelli groups is also calculated explicitly.