Deformation spaces of \(G\)-trees and automorphisms of Baumslag-Solitar groups. (Q1016443)

Summary: We construct an invariant deformation retract of a deformation space of \(G\)-trees. We show that this complex is finite-dimensional in certain cases and provide an example that is not finite-dimensional. Using this complex we compute the automorphism group of the classical non-solvable Baumslag-Solitar groups \(\text{BS}(p,q)\). The most interesting case is when \(p\) properly divides \(q\). Collins and Levin computed a presentation for \(\Aut(\text{BS}(p,q))\) in this case using algebraic methods. Our computation uses Bass-Serre theory to derive these presentations. Additionally, we provide a geometric argument showing \(\text{Out}(\text{BS}(p,q))\) is not finitely generated when \(p\) properly divides \(q\).