Lie algebras of symplectic derivations and cycles on the moduli spaces

We consider the Lie algebra consisting of all derivations on the free associative algebra, generated by the first homology group of a closed oriented surface, which kill the symplectic class. We find the first non-trivial abelianization of this Lie algebra and discuss its relation to unstable cohomology classes of the moduli space of curves via a theorem of Kontsevich.Comment: This is the version published by Geometry & Topology Monographs on 25 February 200

Computations in formal symplectic geometry and characteristic classes of moduli spaces

We make explicit computations in the formal symplectic geometry of Kontsevich and determine the Euler characteristics of the three cases, namely commutative, Lie and associative ones, up to certain weights.From these, we obtain some non-triviality results in each case. In particular, we determine the integral Euler characteristics of the outer automorphism groups Out F_n of free groups for all n <= 10 and prove the existence of plenty of rational cohomology classes of odd degrees. We also clarify the relationship of the commutative graph homology with finite type invariants of homology 3-spheres as well as the leaf cohomology classes for transversely symplectic foliations. Furthermore we prove the existence of several new non-trivalent graph homology classes of odd degrees. Based on these computations, we propose a few conjectures and problems on the graph homology and the characteristic classes of the moduli spaces of graphs as well as curves.Comment: 33 pages, final version, to appear in Quantum Topolog