A McCool Whitehead type theorem for finitely generated subgroups of \(\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\) (Q6098912)

Let \(F_n\) denote the free group of rank \(n\), and \(\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\) its group of outer automorphisms. This group naturally acts on (1) the collection \(\mathscr K\) of conjugacy classes of finitely generated subgroups of \(F_n\); and (2) the collection \(\mathscr H\) of homomorphisms \(G\to\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\). The main result of the present article is threefold: for every finite group \(G\), \begin{itemize} \item[1.] there is an algorithm that determines, given \(\alpha,\alpha'\in\mathscr H\) and \(K_1,K'_1,\dots,K_N,K'_N\in\mathscr K\), whether there exists an element of \(\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\) mapping \(\alpha\) to \(\alpha'\) and \(K_i\) to \(K'_i\) for all \(i\); \item[2.] there is an algorithm that outputs, given \(\alpha\in\mathscr H\) and \(K_1,\dots,K_N\in\mathscr K\), a finite presentation of the subgroup of \(\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\) fixing \(\alpha\) and each \(K_i\); \item[3.] this last subgroup has a finite-index subgroup with finite classifying space (it has type \textsf{VF}). \end{itemize} This extends and combines numerous previous results: if \(G=1\) and the \(K_i\) are all cyclic subgroups, 1. is due to Whitehead, 2. to McCool and 3. to Culler-Vogtmann. If only \(G=1\), 1. and 2. are due to Gersten-Kalajdžievski. If only the \(K_i\) are cyclic, 1. is due to Krstić-Lustig-Vogtmann. The technique of proof is fundamentally based on Culler-Vogtmann's ``outer space'', a contractible simplicial complex on which \(\operatorname{Out}(F_n)\) acts geometrically. The authors associate with \((K_1,\dots,K_N,\alpha)\) a subcomplex of outer space, prove that it is contractible and serves as a classifying space for the stabilizer of \((K_1,\dots,K_N,\alpha)\).