Related papers: The Recognition Theorem for Out(F_n)
Given a free group of rank r >= 3 and two exponentially growing outer automorphisms {\psi} and {\phi} with dual lamination pairs {\Lambda^\pm}_{\psi} and {\Lambda^\pm}_{\phi} associated to them, which satisfy a notion of independence…
An outer automorphism of a free group is geometric if it can be represented by a homeomorphism of a compact surface. Bestvina and Handel gave an algorithmic characterization of geometric irreducible outer automorphisms using relative train…
This is the second in a series of four papers (with research announcement posted on this arXiv) that together develop a decomposition theory for subgroups of Out(F_n). In this paper we relativize the "Kolchin-type theorem" from the work of…
We study finite subgroups of outer automorphisms of free products. We give upper bounds for the orders of these finite subgroups as well as bounds for the orders of individual torsion outer automorphisms under some (necessary) conditions…
This paper, which is the last of a series of three papers, studies dynamical properties of elements of $\mathrm{Out}(F_{\tt n})$, the outer automorphism group of a nonabelian free group $F_{\tt n}$. We prove that, for every subgroup $H$ of…
To any free group automorphism, we associate a universal (cone of) limit tree(s) with three defining properties: first, the tree has a minimal isometric action of the free group with trivial arc stabilizers; second, there is a unique…
We provide an effective algorithm for determining whether an element of the outer automorphism group of a free group is fully irreducible. Our method produces a finite list which can be checked for periodic proper free factors.
This is the first in a series of four papers (with research announcement posted on this arXiv) that together develop a decomposition theory for subgroups of Out(F_n). In this paper we develop further the theory of geometric EG strata of…
We study endomorphisms of a free group of finite rank by means of their action on specific sets of elements. In particular, we prove that every endomorphism of the free group of rank 2 which preserves an automorphic orbit (i.e., acts ``like…
We prove that abelian subgroups of the outer automorphism group of a free group are quasi-isometrically embedded. Our proof uses recent developments in the theory of train track maps by Feighn-Handel. As an application, we prove the rank…
We present an effective algorithm for detecting automorphic orbits in free groups, as well as a number of algorithmic improvements of train tracks for free group automorphisms.
Let $F_n= F\langle x_1,...,x_n\rangle$ denote the free group of rank $n\ge 2$ and let $\mathrm{End}(F_n)$ be the endomorphism monoid of $F_n$. We show that automorphisms of $F_n$ are detected via the $\mathrm{End}(F_n)$-action on the first…
We study those fully irreducible outer automorphisms phi of a finite rank free group F_r which are ``parageometric'', meaning that the attracting fixed point of phi in the boundary of outer space is a geometric R-tree with respect to the…
We compute explicitly the automorphism and outer automorphism group of all large-type free-of-infinity Artin groups. Our strategy involves reconstructing the associated Deligne complexes in a purely algebraic manner, i.e. in a way that is…
We point out that the existence of an outer automorphism (Out) is a sufficient condition for the existence of a fixed hyperplane (fixed point, separatrix) in the renormalization group (RG) flow of a Quantum Field Theory (QFT). The…
This paper uses the methods from arXiv:0804.1396 to give 'short' presentations for Aut$^+(F_n)$, the special automorphism group of the free group of rank $n$, and Out $^+(F_n)$ the special outer automorphism group of the free group of rank…
In this paper we define a quantity called the rank of an outer automorphism of a free group which is the same as the index introduced in [D. Gaboriau, A. Jaeger, G. Levitt and M. Lustig, `An index for counting fixed points for automorphisms…
Using the canonical JSJ splitting, we describe the outer automorphism group $\Out(G)$ of a one-ended word hyperbolic group $G$. In particular, we discuss to what extent $\Out(G)$ is virtually a direct product of mapping class groups and a…
We give an algorithm for finding the index of a positive outer automorphism of the free group, and prove the algorithm exits in a finite time.
We will survey the work on the topology of $Out(F_n)$ in the last 20 years or so. Much of the development is driven by the tantalizing analogy with mapping class groups. Unfortunately, $Out(F_n)$ is more complicated and less well-behaved.…