We study the large scale geometry of the relative free splitting complex and the relative complex of free factor systems of the rank $n$ free group $F_n$, relative to the choice of a free factor system of $F_n$, proving that these complexes are hyper
bolic. Furthermore we present the proof in a general context, obtaining hyperbolicity of the relative free splitting complex and of the relative complex of free factor systems of a general group $Gamma$, relative to the choice of a free factor system of $Gamma$. The proof yields information about coarsely transitive families of quasigeodesics in each of these complexes, expressed in terms of fold paths of free splittings.
We study the loxodromic elements for the action of $Out(F_n)$ on the free splitting complex of the rank $n$ free group $F_n$. We prove that each outer automorphism is either loxodromic, or has bounded orbits without any periodic point, or has a perio
dic point; and we prove that all three possibilities can occur. We also prove that two loxodromic elements are either co-axial or independent, meaning that their attracting/repelling fixed point pairs on the Gromov boundary of the free splitting complex are either equal or disjoint as sets. Each of the alternatives in these results is also characterized in terms of the attracting/repelling lamination pairs of an outer automorphism. As an application, each attracting lamination determines its corresponding repelling lamination independent of the outer automorphism. As part of this study we describe the structure of the subgroup of $Out(F_n)$ that stabilizes the fixed point pair of a given loxodromic outer automorphism, and we give examples which show that this subgroup need not be virtually cyclic. As an application, the action of $Out(F_n)$ on the free splitting complex is not acylindrical, and its loxodromic elements do not all satisfy the WPD property of Bestvina and Fujiwara.
Handel and Mosher define the axis bundle for a fully irreducible outer automorphism in Axes in Outer Space. In this paper we give a necessary and sufficient condition for the axis bundle to consist of a unique periodic fold line. As a consequence, we
give a setting, and means for identifying in this setting, when two elements of an outer automorphism group $Out(F_r)$ have conjugate powers.
This is the third in a series of four papers (with research announcement posted on this arXiv) that develop a decomposition theory for subgroups of $text{Out}(F_n)$. In this paper, given an outer automorphism of $F_n$ and an attracting-repelling la
mination pair, we study which lines and conjugacy classes in $F_n$ are weakly attracted to that lamination pair under forward and backward iteration respectively. For conjugacy classes, we prove Theorem F from the research annoucement, which exhibits a unique vertex group system called the nonattracting subgroup system having the property that the conjugacy classes it carries are characterized as those which are not weakly attracted to the attracting lamination under forward iteration, and also as those which are not weakly attracted to the repelling lamination under backward iteration. For lines in general, we prove Theorem G that characterizes exactly which lines are weakly attracted to the attracting lamination under forward iteration and which to the repelling lamination under backward iteration. We also prove Theorem H which gives a uniform version of weak attraction of lines. v3: Contains a stronger proof of Lemma 2.19 (part of the proof of Theorem G) for purposes of further applications.
This is the fourth and last in a series of four papers (with research announcement posted on this arXiv) that develop a decomposition theory for subgroups of $text{Out}(F_n)$. In this paper we develop general ping-pong techniques for the action of $t
ext{Out}(F_n)$ on the space of lines of $F_n$. Using these techniques we prove the main results stated in the research announcement, Theorem C and its special case Theorem I, the latter of which says that for any finitely generated subgroup $mathcal H$ of $text{Out}(F_n)$ that acts trivially on homology with $mathbb{Z}/3$ coefficients, and for any free factor system $mathcal F$ that does not consist of (the conjugacy classes of) a complementary pair of free factors of $F_n$ nor of a rank $n-1$ free factor, if $mathcal H$ is fully irreducible relative to $mathcal F$ then $mathcal H$ has an element that is fully irreducible relative to $mathcal F$. We also prove Theorem J which, under the additional hypothesis that $mathcal H$ is geometric relative to $mathcal F$, describes a strong relation between $mathcal H$ and a mapping class group of a surface. v3 and 4: Strengthened statements of the main theorems, highlighting the role of the finite generation hypothesis, and providing an alternative hypothesis. Strengthened proofs of lamination ping-pong, and a strengthened conclusion in Theorem J, for further applications.
