Graphs of subgroups of free groups

Abstract

We construct an efficient model for graphs of finitely generated subgroups of free groups. Using this we give a very short proof of Dicks’s reformulation of the strengthened Hanna Neumann Conjecture as the Amalgamated Graph Conjecture. In addition, we answer a question of Culler and Shalen on ranks of intersections in free groups. The latter has also been done independently by R P Kent IV.