A dynamic interplay between conjugacy class invariants for outer automorphism
groups of free groups and geodesics in outer space
Catherine Pfaff (UCSB)
Abstract: Mosher and Handel defined several conjugacy class invariants for outer
automorphisms of free groups. These invariants record, with various levels of detail,
the behavior of these automorphisms applied iteratively. In our dual programs of
understanding these invariants and understanding the action of the outer automorphism
group as an isometry group, we analyze the geometric implications of these invariants
and then what the geometric implications say about the outer automorphisms with the
invariants. Various pieces of this work are joint with Yael Algom-Kfir, Ilya
Kapovich, and Lee Mosher.