Distance 5 Curves in the Curve Graph of Closed Surfaces

Publication date 28 November 2022

Abstract: Let

S_{g}

denote a closed, orientable surface of genus

g g e q 2

and

m a t h c a l C (S_{g})

be the associated curve graph. Let

d

be the path metric on

m a t h c a l C (S_{g})

and

a_{0}

and

a_{4}

are two curves on

S_{g}

with

d (a_{0}, a_{4}) = 4

. In this article we give a criterion for when

d (a_{0}, T_{a_{4}} (a_{0})) = 4

and when

d (a_{0}, T_{a_{4}} (a_{0})) g e q 5

. We further give an explicit example of a pair of curves on

S_{2}

which represent vertices at a distance

5

in

m a t h c a l C (S_{2})

. Using this example we deduce that

i_{m i n} (2, 5) l e q 144

.

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