# Automorphism classes of the free group

As is well known, the conjugacy classes of the free group $F_2$ are parametrised by cyclically reduced words, up to cyclic permutation. In particular, it's easy to tell whether two elements of $F_2$ are conjugate.

What about the automorphism classes of $F_2$? For $u,v\in F_2$ write $u\sim v$ if there is an automorphism of $F_2$ mapping $u$ to $v$. Is there a similarly simple description of a representative from each $\sim$ class?

For example, if $F_2 = \langle x,y\rangle$ then $xyxyxy\sim xxx$ while $xyxyxyx\sim x$.

In particular, is it easy to tell whether $u\sim v$ for general words $u$ and $v$?

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You can do this using the Whitehead Algorithm. More generally, it can be decided whether there is an automorphism mapping one $k$-tuple of elements onto another. –  Derek Holt Mar 30 '13 at 16:32

"Let $w_1$ and $w_2$ be elements of a free group $F$. Then it is decidable whether there is an automorphism of $F$ carrying $w_1$ into $w_2$."
Just to add, that the case of $F_2$ (free group of rank 2) in particular, is special. The automorphisms have been studied more extensively and there are a lot of results. –  Alexey Kvashchuk Mar 30 '13 at 17:48
Yes. B. Khan studied extensively automorphic conjugacy classes in $F_2$. systemic-inquiry.com/math/autF2/paper.pdf To get a better idea of what automorphisms of $F_2$ look like see eudml.org/doc/163568 See also sci.ccny.cuny.edu/~shpil/orbit.ps –  Alexey Kvashchuk Mar 31 '13 at 2:11