Essential loops in taut ideal triangulations (Q1986003)

An ideal \(3\)-simplex is a \(3\)-simplex with its four vertices removed. An \textit{ideal triangulation} of a \(3\)-manifold \(M\) is an expression of \(M-\partial M\) as a collection of ideal \(3\)-simplices with their faces glued in pairs. A \textit{taut ideal triangulation} is an ideal triangulation with some extra combinatorial structure satisfying two additional conditions. More specifically, a \textit{taut ideal triangulation} is an ideal triangulation with a transverse orientation assigned to each ideal \(2\)-simplex, such that \(\bullet\) for each ideal \(3\)-simplex, precisely two of its faces are oriented into the \(3\)-simplex, and precisely two are oriented outwards, and \(\bullet\) the faces around each edge are oriented where all but precisely two pairs of adjacent faces encircling the edge have compatible orientations around that edge. The study of taut ideal triangulations of \(3\)-manifolds is due to Lackenby, and the notion of taut ideal triangulation and its details are discussed in [\textit{M. Lackenby}, Geom. Topol. 4, 369--395 (2000; Zbl 0958.57019)]. In this paper, we see two main results stated below. As for the first result, the authors are able to give a simple proof of a variant of a result of Novikov, that is, let \(M\) be a \(3\)-manifold which has a taut ideal triangulation \(\mathcal T\). Let \(\mathcal B\) \(=\) \(\mathcal T^{(2)}\) be the resulting branched surface in \(M\). Then: Theorem. Any loop \(\delta\) in \(M\) which is vertical with respect to \(\mathcal B\) is nontrivial in \(\pi_1(M)\). Theorem. Any loop \(\gamma\) in \(M\) which is normal with respect to \(\mathcal B\) is nontrivial in \(\pi_1(M)\). Speaking about the second theorem, Gabai and Oertel proved that laminations carried by essential branched surfaces are \(\pi_1\)-injective (see [\textit{D. Gabai} and \textit{U. Oertel}, Ann. Math. (2) 130, No. 1, 41--73 (1989; Zbl 0685.57007)]). On the one hand, the authors' second theorem is more general than their work. In fact, they do not require the lamination condition. On the other hand, the second theorem is less general, for Gabai and Oertel did not require the manifold may have cusp.