Infinite metacyclic subgroups of the mapping class group

Abstract: For

g g e q 2

, let

e x t M o d (S_{g})

be the mapping class group of the closed orientable surface

S_{g}

of genus

g

. In this paper, we give a complete characterization of the infinite metacyclic subgroups of

e x t M o d (S_{g})

up to conjugacy. In particular, we provide equivalent conditions under which a pseudo-Anosov mapping class generates a metacyclic subgroup of

e x t M o d (S_{g})

with another mapping class. As applications of our main results, we establish the existence of infinite metacyclic subgroups of

e x t M o d (S_{g})

isomorphic to

m a t h b b Z t i m e s_{k} m a t h b b Z_{m}, m a t h b b Z_{n} t i m e s_{k} m a t h b b Z

, and

m a t h b b Z t i m e s_{k} m a t h b b Z

. Furthermore, we derive bounds on the order of a periodic generator of an infinite metacyclic subgroup of

e x t M o d (S_{g})

. Finally, we derive normal generating sets for the centralizers of irreducible periodic mapping classes.

This page was built for publication: Infinite metacyclic subgroups of the mapping class group