The commutator subgroup of the braid group is generated by two elements

Abstract

For $n$ at least 7 and $n$ equal to 5, we give generating sets of size 2 for the commutator subgroup of the braid group on $n$ strands. These generating sets are of the smallest possible cardinality. For $n$ equal to 4 or 6, we give generating sets of size three. We also prove that the commutator subgroup of the braid group on 4 strands cannot be generated by fewer than three elements.

8 pages, 1 figure; final version; to appear in Proc. Amer. Math. Soc