A uniqueness decomposition theorem for actions of finite groups on free groups (Q1262393)

If G is a finite group, which acts on the free group F by an action \(\theta\), i.e. \(\theta\) : \(G\to Aut F\) and \(F=F'*F''\) where F', F'' are G-invariant factors, then \(\theta\) induces two actions \(\theta\) ': \(G\to Aut F'\) and \(\theta\) '': \(G\to Aut F''\) and we say that \(\theta =\theta '*\theta ''\) and that \(\theta\) decomposes if F', F'' are non-trivial. The present paper studies decompositions of F of this kind for an action \(\theta\) : \(G\to Aut F\) of the finite group G. The main result states that if \(\theta =\theta_ 1*\theta_ 2*...*\theta_ r\) and \(\theta =\theta_ 1'*\theta_ 2'*...*\theta_ s'\) are two decompositions of \(\theta\) : \(G\to Aut F\), into indecomposable factors then \(r=s\) and up to reordering of factors \(\theta_ i\) is equivalent to \(\theta_ i'\), \(1\leq i\leq r\). The method of proof is geometric, using the realization theorem of Culler which says that every finite subgroup of Aut F is induced by a group of automorphisms of a graph. Finally the author applies his results to some questions related to the classification of periodic automorphisms of free groups.