Polynomials associated with endomorphisms of free groups (Q1313398)

The question of polynomials associated to endomorphisms of free groups has been studied again recently in relation with discrete Schrödinger operators with automatic or substitutive potentials. In such problems, one has to compute the trace of a product of matrices generated by endomorphisms of free monoids or groups [see for instance C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. II 302, 1135-1136 (1986; Zbl 0587.65033) by the first author and the reviewer]. If the reader wants to have a nice survey of the algebraic facts of these problems, as well as new results, he will enjoy the paper under review where he will find many interesting results on the endomorphisms of the free group with two generators, trace identities for matrices, links with Chebyshev polynomials\dots For the more difficult case of \(n > 2\) generators, some partial results are given.