Axioms for the fixed point index of n-valued maps, and some applications

We give an axiomatic characterization of the fixed point index of an $n$-valued map. For $n$-valued maps on a polyhedron, the fixed point index is shown to be unique with respect to axioms of homotopy invariance, additivity, and a splitting property. This uniqueness is used to obtain easy proofs of an averaging formula and product formula for the index. In the setting of $n$-valued maps on a manifold, we show that the axioms can be weakened

A formula for the coincidence Reidemeister trace of selfmaps on bouquets of circles

We give a formula for the coincidence Reidemeister trace of selfmaps on bouquets of circles in terms of the Fox calculus. Our formula reduces the problem of computing the coincidence Reidemeister trace to the problem of distinguishing doubly twisted conjugacy classes in free groups.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

On the uniqueness of the coincidence index on orientable differentiable manifolds

The fixed point index of topological fixed point theory is a well studied integer-valued algebraic invariant of a mapping which can be characterized by a small set of axioms. The coincidence index is an extension of the concept to topological (Nielsen) coincidence theory. We demonstrate that three natural axioms are sufficient to characterize the coincidence index in the setting of continuous mappings on oriented differentiable manifolds, the most common setting for Nielsen coincidence theory.Comment: Major addition- section added at end. Previous material mostly unchanged. Numbering, etc. now in sync with publication versio

Maps on graphs can be deformed to be coincidence-free

We give a construction to remove coincidence points of continuous maps on graphs (1-complexes) by changing the maps by homotopies. When the codomain is not homeomorphic to the circle, we show that any pair of maps can be changed by homotopies to be coincidence free. This means that there can be no nontrivial coincidence index, Nielsen coincidence number, or coincidence Reidemeister trace in this setting, and the results of our previous paper "A formula for the coincidence Reidemeister trace of selfmaps on bouquets of circles" are invalid.Comment: 5 pages, greatly improved and simplifie

Generalizing the rotation interval to vertex maps on graphs

Graph maps that are homotopic to the identity and that permute the vertices are studied. Given a periodic point for such a map, a {\em rotation element} is defined in terms of the fundamental group. A number of results are proved about the rotation elements associated to periodic points in a given edge of the graph. Most of the results show that the existence of two periodic points with certain rotation elements will imply an infinite family of other periodic points with related rotation elements. These results for periodic points can be considered as generalizations of the rotation interval for degree one maps of the circle