Homology boundary links and fusion constructions (Q1802989)

A link \(L: \mu S^ n\to S^{n+2}\) is an homology boundary link (HBL) if its link group \(\pi L\) maps onto the free group of rank \(\mu\). If there is an epimorphism which carries a set of meridians to a free basis then \(L\) is a boundary link, i.e., is spanned by \(\mu\) disjoint hypersurfaces in \(S^{n+2}\). While it is obvious that a sublink of a boundary link is a boundary link, sublinks of HBLs need not be HBLs. The class of sublinks is preserved by the geometric operation of fusion, which arises in constructing ribbon links. The questions considered in this paper are when is a (strong) fusion of a boundary link or HBL again a boundary link or HBL. These questions are translated into problems of combinatorial group theory, using the notion of ``pattern'' of an HBL introduced by \textit{T. D. Cochran} and \textit{J. P. Levine} [Topology 30, No. 2, 231-239 (1991; Zbl 0734.57015)], which in the opinion of the author ``has not yet been studied adequately''. \{Remark: In \S 3 the outer automorphism group \(\text{Out}(F)\) should be replaced by the automorphism group \(\Aut(F)\), for otherwise the homomorphism \(\theta\) is not well defined\}.