Sturmian morphisms, the braid group \(B_4\), Christoffel words and bases of \(F_2\) (Q997566)

In the group \(\Aut(F_2)\) of automorphisms of the free group \(F_2\) of rank two, the authors consider the submonoid \({St}_0\) of positive automorphisms (Sturmian morphisms) acting by linear transformations of determinant 1 on the free abelian group \(Z^2\). By observing the relations satisfied by a certain set of four generators of \({St}_0\), the authors exhibit an action of the braid group \(B_4\) on \(F_2\), which leads to an expression of \(\Aut(F_2)\) as a semi-direct product of \(Z/2\) with the quotient group \(B_4/Z_4\), where \(Z_4\) is the center of \(B_4\). Using the presentation by generators and relations, the authors show that \({St}_0\) can be realized as a submonoid of \(B_4\). Moreover, using Christoffel words, the authors associate to any basis of \(Z^2\) an explicit basis of \(F_2\). Finally, by characterizing bases of \(F_2\) by chains of mutually conjugate couples of elements of \(F_2\), it is shown that if \((u,v)\) is a basis of \(F_2\), where \(u\) and \(v\) are of odd length, then there is exactly one basis conjugate to \((u,v)\) which consists of two palindromes.