Nielsen numbers of maps of aspherical figure-eight type polyhedra (Q2343344)

Let \(X\) be a compact polyhedron of the homotopy type of a wedge of circles and \(f:X\to X\) a map. Let \(a_1,\dots,a_n\) generate the free group \(\pi_1(X)\). One says that \(f_{\#}(a_i)\) has remnant if there is a nontrivial subword of \(f_{\#}(a_i)\) which does not cancel in any product of the form \(f_{\#}(a_j)^{\pm 1}f_{\#}(a_i)f_{\#}(a_k)^{\pm 1}\) except if \(j\) or \(k\) equals \(i\) and the exponent is \(-1\). If every \(f_{\#}(a_i)\) has remnant then one says that \(f\) has remnant. If \(f:X\to X\) and \(g:Y\to Y\) are maps of compact connected polyhedra then one says that \(g\) is obtained from \(f\) by commutation if there are maps \(\eta:X\to Y\) and \(\xi:Y\to X\) such that \(f=\xi\circ\eta\) and \(g=\eta\circ\xi\). A map \(g\) is called a mutant of \(f\) if there are selfmaps \(f_0=f,f_1,\dotsc,f_{n+1}=g\) of compact connected polyhedra such that either \(f_{i+1}\) is obtained from \(f_i\) by commutation or \(f_{i+1}\) is homotopic to \(f_i\). Mutants have the same Nielsen number. Let then \(\pi_1(X)\) be free with generators \(a\) and \(b\) and assume that \(f\) is without remnant. Then there is a mutant \(f'\) of \(f\) such that \(U:=f'_{\#}(b)\) is an initial segment of \(f'_{\#}(a)\). Let \(n\) be the maximal integer such that \(f'_{\#}(a)=U^nR\). Assume that \(R\) is not an initial segment of \(U\). In this situation the authors prove that \(f\) can be mutated either to a map that has remnant or to an exceptional form where one can compute the Nielsen number. The point is that for a map with remnant there is an algorithm due to \textit{J. Wagner} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 351, No. 1, 41--62 (1999; Zbl 0910.55001)] that computes the Nielsen number.