Endomorphisms of free groups that preserve automorphic orbits (Q1604372)

Using classical tools from combinatorial group theory, namely Nielsen transformations and the standard Whitehead graph, it is proved that if an endomorphism, \(\varphi\), of a free group of finite rank preserves a nontrivial automorphic orbit, then \(\varphi\) is actually an isomorphism, which confirms a conjecture of \textit{V. Shpilrain} [Arch. Math 62, No. 5, 385-392 (1994; Zbl 0802.20024)].