Commutator Subgroups of Twin Groups and Grothendieck's Cartographical Groups

Abstract

Let $TW_n$ be the twin group on $n$ arcs, $n \geq 2$. The group $TW_{m+2}$ is isomorphic to Grothendieck's $m$-dimensional cartographical group $\mathcal C_m$, $m \geq 1$. In this paper we give a finite presentation for the commutator subgroup $TW_{m+2}'$, and prove that $TW_{m+2}'$ has rank $2m-1$. We derive that $TW_{m+2}'$ is free if and only if $m \leq 3$. From this it follows that $TW_{m+2}$ is word-hyperbolic and does not contain a surface group if and only if $m \leq 3$. It also follows that the automorphism group of $TW_{m+2}$ is finitely presented for $m \leq 3$.