The center of the Goldman Lie algebra of a surface of infinite genus

Abstract

Let $\Sigma_{\infty, 1}$ be the inductive limit of compact oriented surfaces with one boundary component. We prove the center of the Goldman Lie algebra of the surface $\Sigma_{\infty,1}$ is spanned by the constant loop. A similar statement for a closed oriented surface was conjectured by Chas and Sullivan, and proved by Etingof. Our result is deduced from a computation of the center of the Lie algebra of oriented chord diagrams.