On automorphisms of relatively free groups (Q5925249)

Let F be a free group of infinite rank and for any variety of groups \({\mathcal B}\) we denote by \({\mathcal B}(F)\) the verbal subgroup of F corresponding to \({\mathcal B}\). Every automorphism of F induces an automorphism of F/\({\mathcal B}(F)\). Thus there is a homomorphism \(\chi\) : Aut(F)\(\to Aut(F/{\mathcal B}(F))\) from the automorphism group of F to the automorphism group of F/\({\mathcal B}(F)\) and the natural question arises whether \(\chi\) is surjective for every variety \({\mathcal B}.\) In this paper the following results are obtained. Theorem 1. Let \({\mathcal B}\) be the variety generated by a nonabelian finite simple group and let F be a free group of countably infinite rank. Then there is an automorphism of F/\({\mathcal B}(F)\) which is not induced by an automorphism of F. Theorem 2. A variety \({\mathcal B}\) of groups has the finitary lifting property if and only if whenever F is a free group of infinite rank with free generating set \(\{x_ i:\) \(i\in I\}\) and \(\Gamma\) is a subset of I such that \(I\setminus \Gamma\) is infinite then every automorphism of F/\({\mathcal B}(F)\) which fixes \(x_ i{\mathcal B}(F)\) for all \(i\in \Gamma\) is induced by an automorphism of F which fixes \(x_ i\) for all \(i\in \Gamma\).