Saddle tangencies and the distance of Heegaard splittings (Q2464784)

In [Topology 40(3), 631--657 (2001; Zbl 0985.57014)], \textit{J. Hempel} introduced the notion of distance \(d(P)\), for a Heegaard surface \(P\) in terms of the geometry and combinatorics of the associated curve complex \(\mathcal C(P)\) [see \textit{W. J. Harvey}, Proc. 1978 Stony Brook Conf., Ann. Math. Stud. 97, 245--251 (1981; Zbl 0461.30036)]. In the present paper the author gives a new proof of a theorem of \textit{M. Scharlemann} and \textit{M. Tomova} [Geom. Topol. 10, 593--617 (2006; Zbl 1128.57022)] and of a theorem of \textit{K. Hartshorn} [Pac. J. Math. 204, No. 1, 61--75 (2002; Zbl 1065.57021)] concerning Hempel distance of Heegaard splittings. The result summarizing both theorems may be stated in the following way: Let \(M\) be a compact orientable irreducible 3-manifold and \(P\) a Heegaard surface of \(M\). Suppose \(Q\) is either an incompressible surface or a strongly irreducible Heegaard surface in \(M\). Then either the Hempel distance \(d(P)\leq 2\operatorname{genus}(Q)\) or \(P\) is isotopic to \(Q\). Actually, the above result may also be naturally extended to bicompressible and strongly irreducible (or weakly incompressible) surfaces, by making use of the notion of distance for any embedded separating surface used in [\textit{K. Hartshorn}, loc. cit.].