Maximum order of finite Abelian subgroups in the outer automorphism group of a rank \(n\) free group (Q5929454)

In a previous paper [J. Algebra 224, No. 2, 437-453 (2000; Zbl 0952.20026)] the author showed that the maximum order of finite cyclic subgroups of the outer automorphism group \(\text{Out }F_n\) of the free group \(F_n\) of rank \(n\) behaves asymptotically like \(\exp\sqrt{n\log n}\) (this is the Landau estimate for the maximum orders of elements in the symmetric groups \(S_n\) which, by a result of \textit{G. Levitt} and \textit{J.-L. Nicolas} [J. Algebra 208, No. 2, 630-642 (1998; Zbl 0930.11070)], holds also for torsion elements in the general linear group \(\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})\)). In the present paper, the author shows that the maximum order of finite Abelian subgroups of \(\text{Out }F_n\) is \(2^n\), and that the corresponding subgroups are isomorphic to direct products of cyclic groups of orders 2 and 4 (for \(n>2\); it has been shown by \textit{S. Wang} and the reviewer [Math. Z. 216, No. 1, 83-87 (1994; Zbl 0795.20013)] that the maximum order of arbitrary finite subgroups of \(\text{Out }F_n\) is \(2^nn!\)). After a characterization of maximal Abelian subgroups of the symmetric groups \(S_n\), the main point of the proof is a careful analysis of actions of finite Abelian groups on finite graphs, coming from the fact that every finite subgroup of \(\text{Out }F_n\) can be realized by an action on a finite graph with fundamental group \(F_n\). (In the context of the paper, it would be interesting to know the maximum orders of finite Abelian subgroups of the linear groups \(\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})\). It is well known that the canonical projection from \(\text{Out }F_n\) to \(\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})\), and also to \(\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z}_3)\), has torsionfree kernel. For the maximum orders of arbitrary finite subgroups of \(\text{GL}(n,\mathbb{Z})\) see the comments in a paper by \textit{S. Friedland} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 125, No. 12, 3519-3526 (1997; Zbl 0895.20039)]).