arXiv subjects

Robert W. Bell

Publications and source records attributed to Robert W. Bell.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Quasi-positivity and recognition of products of conjugacy classes in free groups

Given a group $G$ and a subset $X \subset G$, an element $g \in G$ is called quasi-positive if it is equal to a product of conjugates of elements in the semigroup generated by $X$. This notion is important in the context of braid groups, where it has been shown that the closure of quasi-positive braids coincides with the geometrically defined class of $\mathbb{C}$-transverse links. We describe an algorithm that recognizes whether or not an element of a free group is quasi-positive with respect to a basis. Spherical cancellation diagrams over free groups are used to establish the validity of the algorithm and to determine the worst-case runtime.

math.GR↗

arXiv2015

On the cop number of generalized Petersen graphs

We show that the cop number of every generalized Petersen graph is at most 4. The strategy is to play a modified game of cops and robbers on an infinite cyclic covering space where the objective is to capture the robber or force the robber towards an end of the infinite graph. We prove that finite isometric subtrees are 1-guardable and apply this to determine the exact cop number of some families of generalized Petersen graphs. We also extend these ideas to prove that the cop number of any connected I-graph is at most 5.

math.CO↗

arXiv2010

Combinatorial Methods for Detecting Surface Subgroups in Right-Angled Artin Groups

We give a short proof of the following theorem of Sang-hyun Kim: if $A(Γ)$ is a right-angled Artin group with defining graph $Γ$, then $A(Γ)$ contains a hyperbolic surface subgroup if $Γ$ contains an induced subgraph $\bar{C}_n$ for some $n \geq 5$, where $\bar{C}_n$ denotes the complement graph of an $n$-cycle. Furthermore, we give a new proof of Kim's co-contraction theorem.

math.GR↗

arXiv2006

Injections of Artin groups

We study those Artin groups which, modulo their centers, are finite index subgroups of the mapping class group of a sphere with at least 5 punctures. In particular, we show that any injective homomorphism between these groups is parameterized by a homeomorphism of a punctured sphere together with a map to the integers. We also give a generating set for the automorphism group of the pure braid group on at least 4 strands. The technique, following Ivanov, is to prove that every superinjective map of the complex of curves of a sphere with at least 5 punctures is induced by a homeomorphism.

math.GR↗

arXiv2005

Braid groups are almost co-Hopfian

Let B_n be the braid group on n > 3 strands. We prove that B_n modulo its center is co-Hopfian. We then show that any injective endomorphism of B_n is geometric in the sense that it is induced by a homeomorphism of a punctured disk. We further prove that any injection from B_n to B_n+1 is geometric. Additionally, we obtain analogous results for mapping class groups of punctured spheres. The methods use Thurston's theory of surface homeomorphisms and build upon work of Ivanov and McCarthy.

math.GT↗