Homology stability for outer automorphism groups of free groups. (Q1766301)

The groups \(\Gamma_{n,s}\) are defined as quotient groups of mapping class groups by ``suitable'' normal subgroups. Here it is not possible to give a detailed description of these groups, so we refer to the paper. \textit{F. Laudenbach} [Ann. Math. (2) 97, 57-81 (1973; Zbl 0246.57003)] proved that \(\Gamma_{n,0}\) is isomorphic to the group \(\text{Out}(F_n)\) of the outer automorphisms of the free group \(F_n\) of rank \(n\) and that \(\Gamma_{n,1}\) is isomorphic to the automorphism group \(\Aut(F_n)\). There are ``naturally'' induced maps \(\alpha\colon\Gamma_{n,s}\to\Gamma_{n+1,s}\), \(\mu\colon\Gamma_{n,s}\to\Gamma_{n,s+1}\) and \(\beta\colon\Gamma_{n,s+2}\to\Gamma_{n+1,s}\) such that \(\alpha=\beta\cdot\mu^2\). In Theorem 4 of this paper it is proved that for \(s\geq 1\), \(\alpha\) induces an isomorphism on the homology groups (\(\alpha_*\colon H_i(\Gamma_{n,s})\to H_i(\Gamma_{n+1,s})\)) for \(n\geq 2i+2\). So it is obtained a generalization and a slight improvement of the result by the authors [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 58, No. 3, 633-655 (1998; Zbl 0922.57001)] that the natural homomorphism \(\Aut(F_n)\to\Aut(F_{n+1})\) induces an isomorphism on the corresponding homology groups \(H_i\) for \(n\geq 2i+2\). In Theorems 5 and 6 it is proved that \(\beta\) induces an isomorphism on the homology groups (\(\beta_*\colon H_i(\Gamma_{n,s+2})\to H_i(\Gamma_{n+1,s})\)) for \(n\geq 2i+2\), if \(s\geq 1\), and for \(n\geq 2i+3\), if \(s=0\). This gives that the quotient map \(\Aut(F_n)\to\text{Out}(F_n)\) induces an isomorphism on homology in dimension \(i\) for \(n\geq 2i+4\). The last result appeared in [\textit{A. E. Hatcher}, Comment. Math. Helv. 70, No. 1, 39-62 (1995; Zbl 0836.57003)], there a mistake was discovered in the arguments, so here a settlement is obtained. But recently [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 6, 573-579 (2006; Zbl 1093.20501)] appeared an erratum, by the authors and \textit{N. Wahl}, of the present paper concerning Theorem 5.