Automorphisms of three-dimensional handlebodies (Q5957470)

This paper gives a classification up to isotopy of automorphism (self-homeomorphisms) of three-dimensional handlebodies and compression bodies, analogous to the Nielsen-Thurston classification of automorphisms of surfaces [\textit{W. P. Thurston}, Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 19, No. 2, 417-431 (1988; Zbl 0674.57008)]. If \(H\) is a connected handlebody, a generic automorphism \(f : H\to H\) is an automorphism which restricts to a pseudo-Anosov automorphism on \(\partial H\) and which is irreducible. Here an automorphism is called irreducible if it does not have a reducing surface. The definition of a reducing surface is quite technical and generalizes the definition of a reducing curve system for a surface automorphism. Nevertheless, a reducing surface of a handlebody automorphism might be compressible. The result which should be compared to Thurston's theorem on the classification of automorphisms of surfaces is the following theorem: every automorphism of a connected handlebody is isotopic to an automorphism which is (1) reducible, (2) periodic, or (3) generic on the handlebody. Furthermore, as in the Nielsen-Thurston theory the author investigates generic automorphisms using invariant laminations. Former work of the author and \textit{M. Lustig} is used [Q. J. Math. 51, No. 4, 485-507 (2000; Zbl 0977.57012)].