On the lower central series of the IA-automorphism group of a free group. (Q418928)

Let \(F_n\) be the free group of rank \(n\) and \(\Gamma_n(k+1)=[\Gamma_n(k),F_n]\), \(k\geq 1\), its lower central series. The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution in the study of the group structure of the \(IA_n\) automorphisms of \(F_n\). To be more precise and able to quote the main result we give the necessary terminology and definitions. Let \(\mathcal A_n(k)\) denote the kernel of the natural homomorphism \(\Aut(F_n)\to\Aut(F_n/\Gamma_n(k+1))\), then is defined the descending central filtration \(\Aut(F_n)=\mathcal A_n(0)\supset\mathcal A_n(1)\supset\mathcal A_n(2)\supset\cdots\) with \(\mathcal A_n(1)=IA_n\). If \(\mathcal L_n(k)=\Gamma_n(k)/\Gamma_n(k+1)\), then \(\mathcal L_n=\bigoplus_{k\geq 1}\mathcal L_n(k)\) has a graded Lie algebra structure. Let \(gr^k(\mathcal A_n)=\mathcal A_n(k)/\mathcal A_n(k+1)\) and \(gr(\mathcal A_n)=\bigoplus_{k\geq 1}gr^k(\mathcal A_n)\). The Johnson homomorphism \(\widetilde\tau_k\colon\mathcal A_n(k)\to\Hom_{\mathbb Z}(H,\mathcal L_n(k+1))\) is defined by \(\sigma\mapsto(x\mapsto x^{-1}x^\sigma)\), \(x\in H\), where \(H\) is the Abelianization of \(F_n\). Since the kernel of \(\widetilde\tau_k\) is \(\mathcal A_n(k+1)\), the injective homomorphism \(\tau_k\colon gr^k(\mathcal A_n)\to\Hom_{\mathbb Z}(H,\mathcal L_n(k+1))=H^*\otimes_{\mathbb Z}\mathcal L_n(k+1)\) is induced. Here \(H^*\) denotes the dual group \(\Hom_{\mathbb Z}(H,\mathbb Z)\) of \(H\). The cokernel of the rational homomorphism \(\tau_{k,\mathbb Q}=\tau_k\otimes id_{\mathbb Q}\) for \(k=1\), 2, 3 is studied by \textit{S. Andreadakis}, [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 15, 239-268 (1965; Zbl 0135.04502)], \textit{A. Pettet}, [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 5, 725-740 (2005; Zbl 1085.20016)], and \textit{T. Satoh}, [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 74, No. 2, 341-360 (2006; Zbl 1118.20037)], respectively, but in general it is unknown. If instead of \(\mathcal A_n(k)\) one takes the lower central series \(\mathcal A_n'(k)\) of \(IA_n\), then \(\mathcal A_n'(k)\leq\mathcal A_n(k)\) and the restriction of \(\widetilde\tau_k\) on \(\mathcal A_n(k)\) induces a \(\text{GL}(n,\mathbb Z)\)-equivariant homomorphism \(\tau_k'\colon gr^k(\mathcal A_n')\to H^*\otimes_{\mathbb Z}\mathcal L_n(k+1)\). Here the author studies the cokernel of the rational homomorphism \(\tau_{k,\mathbb Q}'=\tau_k'\otimes id_{\mathbb Q}\). Let \(\mathcal C_n(k)=H^{\otimes k}/\langle a_1\otimes a_2\otimes\cdots\otimes a_k-a_2\otimes a_3\otimes\cdots a_k\otimes a_1\mid a_i\in H\rangle\) be the quotient module of \(H^{\otimes k}\) by the action of a cyclic group of order \(k\) on the components and \(\mathcal C_n^{\mathbb Q}(k)=\mathcal C_n(k)\otimes_{\mathbb Z}\mathbb Q\). Theorem. For any \(k\geq 2\) and \(n\geq k+2\), \(\text{Coker}(\tau_{k,\mathbb Q}')=\mathcal C_n^{\mathbb Q}(k)\). This work is part of a series of the author's papers related to the study of the structure of the group of \(IA\)-automorphisms of a free group. See, for example, [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 363, No. 3, 1631-1664 (2011; Zbl 1222.20027); J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. (loc. cit.); J. Algebra 323, No. 12, 3182-3201 (2010; Zbl 1204.20048)].