The mapping class group of connect sums of S^2 \times S^1

Abstract: Let

M_{n}

be the connect sum of

n

copies of

S^{2} i m e s S^{1}

. A classical theorem of Laudenbach says that the mapping class group

e x t M o d (M_{n})

is an extension of

e x t O u t (F_{n})

by a group

(m a t h b b Z / 2)^{n}

generated by sphere twists. We prove that this extension splits, so

e x t M o d (M_{n})

is the semidirect product of

e x t O u t (F_{n})

by

(m a t h b b Z / 2)^{n}

, which

e x t O u t (F_{n})

acts on via the dual of the natural surjection

e x t O u t (F_{n}) i g h t a r r o w e x t {G L}_{n} (m a t h b b Z / 2)

. Our splitting takes

e x t O u t (F_{n})

to the subgroup of

e x t M o d (M_{n})

consisting of mapping classes that fix the homotopy class of a trivialization of the tangent bundle of

M_{n}

. Our techniques also simplify various aspects of Laudenbach's original proof, including the identification of the twist subgroup with

(m a t h b b Z / 2)^{n}

.

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