Let F be a flnitely generated free group, and let n denote its rank. A subgroup H of F is said to be automorphism-flxed, or auto-flxed for short, if there exists a set S of automorphisms of F such that H is precisely the set of elements flxed by every element of S; similarly, H is 1-auto-flxed if there exists a single automorphism of F whose set of flxed elements is precisely H. We show that each auto-flxed subgroup of F is a free factor of a 1-auto-flxed subgroup of F. We show also that if (and only if) n ‚ 3, then there exist free factors of 1-auto-flxed subgroups of F which are not auto-flxed subgroups of F. A 1-auto-flxed subgroup H of F has rank at most n, by the Bestvina-Handel Theorem, and if H has rank exactly n, then H is said to be a maximum-rank 1-auto-flxed subgroup of F, and similarly for auto-flxed subgroups. Hence a maximum-rank auto-flxed subgroup of F is a (maximum-rank) 1-auto-flxed subgroup of F. We further prove that if H is a maximum-rank 1-auto-flxed subgroup of F, then the group of automorphisms of F which flx every element of H is free abelian of rank at most n ¡ 1. All of our results apply also to endomorphisms.

Peer Reviewed