On automorphisms of free centre-by-metabelian groups (Q1092166)

This paper deals with the automorphism group of the groups of the title. It was proved by Bachmuth and Mochizuki that the automorphism group of the free metabelian group \(M_ n\) of rank \(n\) is finitely generated for \(n=2\) and \(n\geq 4\) and not finitely generated for \(n=3\). For the free-centre-by-metabelian group \(G_ n\) of rank \(n\), where \(G_ n=F_ n/[F_ n'',F_ n]\) with \(F_ n\) a free group of rank \(n\), the author proves analogous results. More precisely she proves that the automorphism group \(\Aut(G_ n)\) is finitely generated for \(n\geq 4\) and not finitely generated for \(n=2\) and \(n=3\). For the proof, she uses the above mentioned result of Bachmuth and Mochizuki and results from a paper of \textit{R. M. Bryant} and \textit{C. K. Gupta} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 29, 435-440 (1984; Zbl 0519.20027)]. It is worth noting that the problem whether for \(n\geq 4\) every automorphism of \(G_ n\) is induced by an automorphism of the free group \(F_ n\) is an open problem as the author points out.