Twisted conjugacy in free groups and Makanin's question. (Q2569313)

The following question by G. Makanin from the ``Kourovka notebook'' is discussed: Does there exist an algorithm to determine for an arbitrary pair of words \(U\) and \(V\) of a free group \(G\) and an arbitrary automorphism \(\varphi\) of \(G\) whether the equation \(\varphi(X)U=VX\) solvable in \(G\)? This question can be regarded as the twisted conjugacy problem for \(G\). It is proved that the twisted conjugacy problem in a free group \(G\) is solvable in the case of a virtually inner automorphism \(\varphi\) for which \(\varphi^m\in\text{Inn}(G)\) for some integer \(m>0\).