A finite presentation of the level 2 principal congruence subgroup of \(GL(n;\mathbf{Z})\) (Q903957)

Let \(n \geq 1\). The kernel of the homomorphism \(\text{GL}(n;\mathbb{Z}) \to \text{GL}(n; \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})\) which reduces matrix entries modulo 2, is called the level 2 principal congruence subgroup of \(\text{GL}(n; \mathbb{Z})\) and denoted by \(\Gamma_2(n)\). The main theorem gives a finite presentation of \(\Gamma_2(n)\). A finite presentation has been obtained as well in [\textit{N. J. Fullarton}, Algebr. Geom. Topol. 15, No. 6, 3535--3567 (2015; Zbl 1368.20026)]. The case \(n=2\) is established using the Reidemeister-Schreier method. For \(n=3\) a simply connected simplicial complex is constructed on which \(\Gamma_2(n)\) acts. Using a special case of a result of Brown [\textit{K. S. Brown}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 32, 1-10 (1984; Zbl 0545.20022)] and Tietze transformations a presentation is obtained. Another simply connected simplicial complex on which \(\Gamma_2(n)\) acts is constructed for \(n \geq 4\) and the presentation for the general case is obtained by induction on \(n\). As an application the author together with Hirose [\textit{S. Hirose} and \textit{R. Kobayashi}, A normal generating set for the Torelli group of a non-orientable closed surface, \url{arXiv:1412.2222}] obtained a generating set for the Torelli group \(\mathcal{T}(N_g)\) of a non-orientable closed surface \(N_g\) of genus \(g \geq 4\).