Nielsen theory, braids and fixed points of surface homeomorphisms (Q5957294)

Three problems are discussed in this paper. The problem of distinguishing Reidemeister classes of automorphisms of free groups realized by a braid is related to a conjugacy problem in the braid group. As a result, any braid conjugacy invariant and any link invariant may be used to distinguish Reidemeister classes. This gives stronger invariants than those known previously. For a surface homeomorphism, criteria are given for the problem of deciding when two fixed points belong to the same Nielsen class. Lastly, results of Sharkovski type are found for homeomorphisms of the \(2\)-disc.