Stabilizing Heegaard splittings of toroidal 3-manifolds
Abstract
Description
Let $T$ be a separating incompressible torus in a 3-manifold $M$. Assuming that a genus $g$ Heegaard splitting $V \cup_S W$ can be positioned nicely with respect to $T$ (e.g. $V \cup_S W$ is strongly irreducible), we obtain an upper bound on the number of stabilizations required for $V \cup_S W$ to become isotopic to a Heegaard splitting which is an amalgamation along $T$. In particular, if $T$ is a canonical torus in the JSJ decomposition of $M$, then the number of necessary stabilizations is at most $4g-4$. As a corollary, this establishes an upper bound on the number of stabilizations required for $V \cup_S W$ and any Heegaard splitting obtained by a Dehn twist of $V \cup_S W$ along $T$ to become isotopic.
21 pages, 18 figures. Version for publication. Generalization of the main theorem and minor changes in style and format
21 pages, 18 figures. Version for publication. Generalization of the main theorem and minor changes in style and format