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Glasgow mathematical journal

Publication date: 1998-01-01
Volume: 40 Pages: 47 - 62
Publisher: Oxford univ press

Author:

Malfait, Wim
Szczepanski, A

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, 0101 Pure Mathematics, General Mathematics, 4904 Pure mathematics

Abstract:

If we investigate symmetry of an infra-nilmanifold M, the outer automorphism group of its fundamental group (an almost-Bieberbach group) is known to be a crucial object. In this paper, we characterise algebraically almost-Bieberbach groups E with finite outer automorphism group Out(E). Inspired by the description of Anosov diffeomorphisms on M, we also present an interesting class of infinite order outer automorphisms. Another possible type of infinite order outer automorphisms arises when comparing Out(E) with the outer automorphism group of the underlying crystallographic group of E.