Abelian subgroups of \(\text{Out}(F_n)\). (Q1006163)

In this long paper the authors classify up to finite index the Abelian subgroups of \(\text{Out}(F_n)\), the group of outer automorphisms of the free group \(F_n\) of rank \(n\). First they construct an Abelian subgroup \(\mathcal D(\varphi)\) from a given \(\varphi\in\text{Out}(F_n)\) by a process called disintegration. Then they prove the following (main) Theorem: For every Abelian subgroup \(A\) of \(\text{Out}(F_n)\) there exists \(\varphi\in A\) such that \(A\cap\mathcal D(\varphi)\) has finite index in \(A\). By applying this theorem they give an explicit description, in terms of relative train track maps and up to finite index, of all maximal rank Abelian subgroups of \(\text{Out}(F_n)\) and \(\text{IA}_n\).