Infinite-dimensional bounded cohomology conjecture for mapping class groups

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Let Mg{\cal M}_g be the mapping class group and let Hb2(Mg)H_b^2({\cal M}_g) denote its second bounded cohomology. Bounded-cohomology conjecture. For every genus gg, the comparison map

Hb2(Mg)⟶H2(Mg;R)H_b^2({\cal M}_g)\longrightarrow H^2({\cal M}_g;{\mathbb R})

is not injective; more strongly, Hb2(Mg)H_b^2({\cal M}_g) is infinite dimensional. The source motivates this by the known non-trivial bounded class in genus 22 and results for hyperbolic groups, but gives no resolution of the assertion for all genera.

References

Primary source

Shigeyuki Morita, “Structure of the mapping class groups of surfaces: a survey and a prospect”, arXiv:math/9911258 (1999).

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