Heegaard splittings of distance exactly \(n\) (Q2444354)

In [Topology 40, No. 3, 631--657 (2001; Zbl 0985.57014)], \textit{J. Hempel} gave the definition of the distance of a Heegaard splitting by using the curve complex and showed that, for any integer \(n\), there exists some integer \(m\) such that the \(m^{th}\) power of a pseudo-Anosov map yields a Heegaard splitting of distance at least \(n\). The purpose of this paper is to give an answer to the following question: Question. Given \(n\geq 1\) and \(g\geq 2\), does there exist a genus \(g\) Heegaard splitting with distance exactly \(n\)? It is known that the pair \((n,g)=(1,2)\) is not realizable by \textit{A. Thompson} [Topology Appl. 97, No. 3, 273--279 (1999; Zbl 0935.57022)]. The main result of this paper is to give the affirmative answer to the above question except for \((n,g)=(1,2)\). Independently, \textit{R. Qiu, Y. Zou} and \textit{Q. Guo} considered the above question and gave the same answer [``The Heegaard distances cover all non-negative integers'', \url{arXiv:1302.5188}].