Ideal Whitehead Graphs in $Out(F_r)$ IV: Building ideal Whitehead graphs in higher ranks and ideal Whitehead graphs with cut vertices

Abstract

We provide an example in each rank of an ageometric fully irreducible outer automorphism whose ideal Whitehead graph has a cut vertex. Consequently, we show that there exist examples in each rank of Handel-Mosher axis bundles that are not just a single axis, as well as of "nongeneric" behavior in the sense of the "train track directed" random walk of Kapovich-Pfaff. The tools developed here also allow one to construct a whole new array of ideal Whitehead graphs achieved by ageometric fully irreducible outer automorphisms in all ranks.