On minimal generating sets for the mapping class group of a punctured surface

Abstract

Let $\Sigma_{g,p}$ be a oriented connected surface of genus $g$ with $p$ punctures. We denote by $\mathcal{M}_{g,p}$ and $\mathcal{M}_{g,p}^\pm$ the mapping class group and the extended mapping class group of $\Sigma_{g,p}$, respectively. In this paper, we show that $\mathcal{M}_{g,p}$ and $\mathcal{M}_{g,p}^\pm$ are generated by two element for $g\geq 3$ and $p\geq 0$.