Related papers: Heegaard splittings and 1-relator groups

Let $G$ be a finite group acting on a connected compact surface $\Sigma$, and $M$ be an integer homology 3-sphere. We show that if each element of $G$ is extendable over $M$ with respect to a fixed embedding $\Sigma\rightarrow M$, then $G$…

In this paper we give a method to construct Heegaard splittings of oriented graph manifolds with orientable bases. A graph manifold is a closed $3$-manifold admitting only Seifert-fibered pieces in its Jaco-Shalen decomposition; for…

We construct a counterexample to the Rank versus Genus Conjecture, i.e. a closed orientable hyperbolic 3-manifold with rank of its fundamental group smaller than its Heegaard genus. Moreover, we show that the discrepancy between rank and…

We prove a Markov theorem for tame links in a connected closed orientable 3-manifold $M$ with respect to a plat-like representation. More precisely, given a genus $g$ Heegaard surface $\Sigma_g$ for $M$ we represent each link in $M$ as the…

Let M be a totally orientable graph manifold with characteristic submanifold T and let M = V cup_S W be a Heegaard splitting. We prove that S is standard. In particular, S is the amalgamation of strongly irreducible Heegaard splittings. The…

This paper has been withdrawn by the author, as the proof of Theorem 3.2 contains a flaw; subsequently, both it and Theorem 3.3 are not known to hold. The content of Section 5 has been improved and expanded upon in two separate papers. The…

Let $Y$ be a closed, orientable 3-manifold with Heegaard genus 2. We prove that if $H_1(Y;\mathbb{Z})$ has order $1$, $3$, or $5$, then there is a representation $\pi_1(Y) \to \mathrm{SU}(2)$ with non-abelian image. Similarly, if…

An expository survey article on Heegaard splittings

Let $f\colon M\to N$ be a proper map between two aspherical compact orientable 3-manifolds with empty or toroidal boundary. We assume that $N$ is not a closed graph-manifold. Suppose that $f$ induces an epimorphism on fundamental groups. We…

We prove a rigidity theorem for degree one maps between small 3-manifolds using Heegaard genus, and provide some applications and connections to Heegaard genus and Dehn surgery problems.

Let $X$ be a bundle over $S^1$ with fiber a 3--manifold $M$ and with monodromy $\varphi$. Gay and Kirby showed that if $\varphi$ fixes a genus $g$ Heegaard splitting of $M$ then $X$ has a genus $6g+1$ trisection. Genus $3g+1$ trisections…

In this paper we introduce "critical surfaces", which are described via a 1-complex whose definition is reminiscent of the curve complex. Our main result is that if the minimal genus common stabilization of a pair of strongly irreducible…

Let M_1 and M_2 be closed, orientable 3-manifolds. Let H_i denote a Heegaard surface in M_i. We prove that if H_1 # H_2 comes from stabilizing a lower genus splitting of M_1 # M_2 then either H_1 or H_2 comes from stabilizing a lower genus…

We present new explicit decompositions of manifolds via so-called fold maps into lower dimensional spaces. Fold maps form a nice class of so-called generic maps, generalizing Morse functions naturally. To understand the topologies and the…

Using Heegaard Floer homology, we construct a numerical invariant for any smooth, oriented $4$-manifold $X$ with the homology of $S^1 \times S^3$. Specifically, we show that for any smoothly embedded $3$-manifold $Y$ representing a…

Let $M$ be an orientable, irreducible $3$-manifold and $(\mathcal{V},\mathcal{W};F)$ a weakly reducible, unstabilized Heegaard splitting of $M$ of genus at least three. In this article, we define an equivalent relation $\sim$ on the set of…

Let $M$ be a complex manifold. We prove that a compact submanifold $S\subset M$ with splitting tangent sequence (called a splitting submanifold) is rational homogeneous when $M$ is in a large class of rational homogeneous spaces of Picard…

It is well-known that Heegaard genus is additive under connected sum of 3-manifolds. We show that Heegaard genus of contact 3-manifolds is not necessarily additive under contact connected sum. We also prove some basic properties of the…

We use thin position of Heegaard splittings to give a new proof of Haken's Lemma that a Heegaard surface of a reducible manifold is reducible and of Scharlemann's ``Strong Haken Theorem'': a Heegaard surface for a 3-manifold may be isotoped…

The mapping class group of a Heegaard splitting is the group of automorphisms of the ambient 3-manifold that take the surface onto itself, modulo isotopies that keep the surface on itself. We characterize the mapping classes that restrict…