Topological symmetry groups and mapping class groups for spatial graphs (Q1951496)

In the present paper, a spatial graph \(\Gamma\) means a pseudograph with no vertices of valence 1 or 2 that is embedded in the 3-sphere \(S^3\). The mapping class group MCG\((S^3,\Gamma)\) is the group made up of homeomorphisms of \(S^3\) stabilizing \(\Gamma\) setwise, where the homeomorphisms (``mapping classes'') are considered up to isotopy. The topological symmetry group TSG(\(S^3, \Gamma\)) is the group of automorphisms of \(\Gamma\) induced by homeomorphisms of \(S^3\); this notion was introduced by \textit{J.~Simon} [Topology 25, 229--235 (1986; Zbl 0615.57005)]. The paper under review provides a structural characterization of spatial graphs \(\Gamma\) for which the groups MCG(\(S^3, \Gamma\)) and TSG(\(S^3, \Gamma\)) are isomorphic. The case of orientation-preserving groups is also addressed.