The Nielsen number for free fundamental groups and maps without remnant (Q926609)

The Nielsen number \(N(f)\) of a self map \(f\colon X\to X\) gives a lower bound for the number of fixed points for maps in the homotopy class of \(f\). This homotopy invariant gives us useful information about the fixed point set of a given map. Unfortunately, it is a really hard job to compute the Nielsen number in general. Let \(f_\pi\colon \pi_1(X)\to \pi_1(X)\) be the homomorphism induced by the map \(f\). The key step in the computation is to decide whether two elements \(u\) and \(v\) in \(\pi_1(X)\) are \(f_\pi\)-conjugate, i.e. there is an element \(z\) in \(\pi_1(X)\) such that \(u=f_\pi(z)vz^{-1}\). This turns out to be the famous conjugacy problem if \(f_\pi\) is the identity. The authors of this paper consider the case that \(X\) has the homotopy type of a wedge of finitely many circles, and hence the fundamental group \(\pi_1(X)\) is a free group with finite ranks. Under the assumption that the maps are \(k\)-remnant, which is a new concept defined by the authors, an algorithm for calculating Nielsen numbers is obtained. This result extends considerably \textit{J. Wagner}'s work [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 351, No. 1, 41--62 (1999; Zbl 0910.55001)]. Some examples also show the improvement.