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arXiv:math/9912248 [math.GT]AbstractReferencesReviewsResources

An elementary approach to the mapping class group of a surface

Bronislaw Wajnryb

Published 1999-12-17Version 1

We consider an oriented surface S and a cellular complex X of curves on S, defined by Hatcher and Thurston in 1980. We prove by elementary means, without Cerf theory, that the complex X is connected and simply connected. From this we derive an explicit simple presentation of the mapping class group of S, following the ideas of Hatcher-Thurston and Harer.

Comments: 62 pages. Published copy, also available at http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/gt/GTVol3/paper17.abs.html
Journal: Geom. Topol. 3 (1999), 405-466
Categories: math.GT
Subjects: 20F05, 20F34, 57M05, 20F38, 57M60
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