Impossible configurations for geodesics on negatively-curved surfaces (Q2066133): Difference between revisions

A \textit{configuration} on a surface \(S\) is a 4-valent, connected graph embedded in \(S\); a configuration can be realized by geodesics if there is a negative-curvature metric on \(S\) such that the graph is isotopic to a collection of closed geodesics intersecting transversally. \textit{J. Hass} and \textit{P. Scott} [Geom. Topol. Monogr. 2, 201--213 (1999; Zbl 1035.53053)] gave a simple example of a 4-valent graph on the 3-punctured sphere that cannot be realized by geodesics. In the present paper, this is generalized to filling configurations on surfaces of arbitrary genus \(\ge 2\) and with an arbitrary number of punctures; here filling means that the complement of a graph is a disjoint union of disks or 1-punctured disks (moreover, there are no monogons or bigons in a complement, no curve is a non-trivial power and different curves represent different elements in the fundamental group).