Embedding the braid group in mapping class groups. (Q987147)

The Artin braid group can be embedded into the mapping class group of the disk and of some closed surfaces. A homomorphism from the braid group to the mapping class group, which maps the generators \(\sigma_i\) to Dehn twists is called geometric. The paper under review constructs embeddings of the Artin braid group into the mapping class group of a surface which are not geometric. This can be done either in an orientable or non-orientable surface. The case where the surface is orientable is based on the result where it is shown that the mapping class group of a non-orientable surface injects into the mapping class of an orientable surface such that the image does not contain Dehn twists. To embed into a non-orientable surface in a non-geometric way the author uses a non-orientable surface constructed from the disk with \(P\) marked points. Explicit embeddings are provided.