The complex of partial bases for \(F_n\) and finite generation of the Torelli subgroup of \(\Aut(F_n)\). (Q1953086)

(This review is based on the introduction to the paper.) One of the most important and ubiquitous objects associated to the mapping class group of a compact surface of genus \(g\) is the \textit{curve complex} \(C_g\). There is a useful analogy between the mapping class group of a surface and the automorphism group of a free group \(F_n\), \(n\geq 2\). Because of this, several analogues of the curve complex were proposed. The purpose of the present paper is to prove some topological results about one of these proposed complexes, the \textit{complex of partial bases} \(B_n\). This complex is inspired by the \textit{nonseparating curve subcomplex} \(C_g^{\mathrm{nonsep}}\) of \(C_g\) introduced by Harer. The authors apply their the results to give a short proof of a classical theorem of \textit{W. Magnus} [Acta Math. 64, 353-367 (1935; Zbl 0012.05405)] which provides generators for the Torelli subgroup \(\mathrm{IA}_n<\Aut(F_n)\), which is the kernel of the natural homomorphism from \(\Aut(F_n)\) to \(\Aut(F_n^{\mathrm{ab}})\cong\Aut(\mathbb Z^n)\cong\mathrm{GL}_n\). The two main topological results about \(B_n\) which are proved in the paper are: Theorem A. The space \(B_n\) is connected for \(n\geq 2\) and \(1\)-connected for \(n\geq 3\). Theorem B. The space \(B_n/\mathrm{IA}_n\) is \((n-2)\)-connected. The analogues of Theorem A and B for \(C_g^{\mathrm{nonsep}}\) are due to \textit{J. L. Harer} [Ann. Math. (2) 121, 215-249 (1985; Zbl 0579.57005)] and \textit{A. Putman} [Geom. Funct. Anal. 19, No. 2, 591-643 (2009; Zbl 1178.57001)], respectively. In fact, Harer proved that \(C_g^{\mathrm{nonsep}}\) is \((g-2)\)-connected, which leads to an open conjecture about \((n-2)\)-connectedness of \(B_n\).