2003/11/19 by Patrick Dehornoy
Mathematics · #math.GT #msc:57M25 #msc:20F36
published as Topology 43-5 (2004) 1067-1079
arxiv created 2003/11/19 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We show that every trivial 3-strand braid diagram contains a disk, defined as a ribbon ending in opposed crossings. Under a convenient algebraic form, the result extends to every Artin--Tits group of dihedral type, but it fails to extend to braids with 4 strands and more. The proof uses a partition of the Cayley graph and a continuity argument.