Factoring Positive Braids via Branched Manifolds

Authors

Michael C. Sullivan, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Comments

Preprint of a paper published in Topology Proceedings, 30(1), 403-416.

Abstract

We show that a positive braid is composite if and only if the factorization is "visually obvious" by placing the braid k in a specially constructed smooth branched 2- manifold B(k) and studying how a would-be cutting sphere meets B(k). This gives an elementary proof of a theorem due to Peter Cromwell.

Recommended Citation

Sullivan, Michael C. "Factoring Positive Braids via Branched Manifolds." (Jan 2006).