The Johnson homomorphism formula for homologous bounding-pair maps

Let Σg\Sigma_g be a closed oriented surface of genus gg, and let γ,γ\gamma,\gamma' be nonseparating simple curves that are homologous and disjoint from pairwise disjoint curves β1,,βg\beta_1,\ldots,\beta_g. Assume that the homology classes [β1],,[βg][\beta_1],\ldots,[\beta_g] form a basis for a Lagrangian subspace of H1(Σg,Z)\mathrm{H}_1(\Sigma_g,\mathbb{Z}). Let α1,,αg\alpha_1,\ldots,\alpha_g be curves such that [α1],,[αg],[β1],,[βg][\alpha_1],\ldots,[\alpha_g],[\beta_1],\ldots,[\beta_g] form a symplectic basis of H1(Σg,Z)\mathrm{H}_1(\Sigma_g,\mathbb{Z}). Define sgnγ,γ(βi){0,±1}\operatorname{sgn}_{\gamma,\gamma'}(\beta_i)\in\{0,\pm1\} according to whether βi\beta_i is of type LRLR, RLRL, or neither, as specified by the regions determined by γ\gamma and γ\gamma' after cutting along the βi\beta_i. The Johnson homomorphism formula. The image of the Johnson homomorphism on the mapping class TγTγ1T_{\gamma}T_{\gamma'}^{-1} is

\@mysumi=1gsgnγ,γ(βi)[αi][βi][γ].\@ifnextchar_\@mysum\oldsum_{i=1}^{g}\operatorname{sgn}_{\gamma,\gamma'}(\beta_i)\,[\alpha_i]\wedge[\beta_i]\wedge[\gamma].

This is a conjectural formula for the Johnson homomorphism associated with a pair of homologous nonseparating curves; the supplied text gives no evidence resolving whether the formula is proved or remains open.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Omid Amini, Daniel Corey and Leonid Monin, “Tropical Abel-Jacobi theory”, arXiv:2504.14415 (2025).

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