Schur multipliers of automorphism groups of free groups (Q804700)

Let \(A_ n\) and \(O_ n\) be respectively the automorphism group and the outer automorphism group of the n-generated free group \(F_ n\). In the present paper the Schur multipliers \(M(A_ n)\) and \(M(O_ n)\) are derived. It turns out that \(M(A_ 2)\cong M(A_ 4)\cong {\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\times {\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\), \(M(A_ 3)\cong {\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\times {\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\times {\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\), \(M(A_ n)\cong {\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\) for \(n\geq 5\), and \(M(O_ 2)\cong {\mathbb{Z}}_ 2\), \(M(O_ n)\cong M(A_ n)\) for \(n\geq 3.\) For \(n\geq 3\) the results follow from the isomorphism \(M(A_ n)\cong M(SA_ n)\), \(n\geq 3\) and \(M(O_ n)\cong M(SA_ n)\), \(n\geq 2\), established in the present paper, where \(SA_ n\) is the group of special automorphisms of \(F_ n\). The groups \(M(SA_ n)\) were calculated earlier by \textit{S. M. Gersten} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 33, 269-279 (1984; Zbl 0542.20021)] for \(n\geq 5\) and by the author [Mat. Zametki 47, No.4, 46-54 (1990; Zbl 0715.20023)] for \(n=3,4\).