Maximal index automorphisms of free groups with no attracting fixed points on the boundary are Dehn twists. (Q1855197)

In the paper under review a notion of rank for an outer automorphism of a finitely generated free group is introduced, which generalises the notion of rank of the fixed subgroup of an automorphism. It is proved that all outer automorphisms of maximal rank can be represented by Dehn twists. Thus the class of Dehn twists and that of maximal rank outer automorphisms coincide. A solution to the conjugacy problem for Dehn twists is indicated, too. It differs from such a solution by M. Cohen and M. Lustig.