Separating twists and the Magnus representation of the Torelli group (Q715267)

Let \(S\) be an orientable compact surface of genus \(g\) with one boundary component and let \(H\) be its first homology group. The mapping class group of \(S\) acts on \(H\) preserving the algebraic intersection form. The Torelli group \(T\) is the kernel of this representation. The Magnus representation is a homomorphism \(r: T\to GL_{2g}({\mathbb Z}H)\) where \(\mathbb Z\) is the infinite cyclic group. \(r\) is not faithful, in particular, Suzuki described precisely when the commutator of two Dehn twists about separating curves is in the kernel of \(r\). The authors use the trace of the Magnus representation to apply a new method of showing that under certain conditions two endomorphisms of a finite-dimensional vector space over a field of characteristic zero generate a free group. Using this they show that the images of two positive separating multitwists under the Magnus representation either commute or generate a free group and they characterize when each case occurs.