Disordered arcs and Harer stability

Abstract

We give a new proof of homological stability with the best known isomorphism range for mapping class groups of surfaces with respect to genus. The proof uses the framework of Randal-Williams-Wahl and Krannich applied to disk stabilization in the category of bidecorated surfaces, using the Euler characteristic instead of the genus as a grading. The monoidal category of bidecorated surfaces does not admit a braiding, distinguishing it from previously known settings for homological stability. Nevertheless, we find that it admits a suitable Yang-Baxter element, which we show is sufficient structure for homological stability arguments.