Bounds for the genus of a normal surface (Q309036)

A normal surface \(S\) in a compact triangulated \(3\)-manifold intersects the \(3\)-simplices in a number of triangles and quadrilaterals. Upper bounds for the genus of such surfaces have been obtained as a function of the number of quadrilaterals by \textit{T. Kalelkar} [Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., Math. Sci. 118, No. 2, 227--233 (2008; Zbl 1149.57034)], by \textit{J. Spreer} [Discrete Math. 311, No. 14, 1295--1309 (2011; Zbl 1235.05164)] and by \textit{B. A. Burton} and \textit{M. Ozlen} [Algorithmica 65, No. 4, 772--801 (2013; Zbl 1270.57060)]. The present authors improve previous bounds, obtaining sharp ones, and utilize results of Burton and Ozlen to bound the smallest genus of an incompressible surface in a \(3\)-manifold in terms of its complexity. Further application characterizes minimal triangulations of the product of a surface with the unit interval. Below are some of the inequalities obtained: \(q\) denotes the number of quadrilaterals of \(S\); \(\|S\|\) denotes the Thurston norm of the homology class represented by \(S\); unless otherwise explicitly stated \(M\) is a triangulated, compact, orientable \(3\)-manifold; similarly, unless stated otherwise, \(S\) is a closed, connected, orientable normal surface in \(M\); \(\|S\|\leqslant q\), \(g\leqslant \frac{3}{2}q\). If \(M\) is simplicially or minimally triangulated and irreducible, \(g\leqslant \frac{7}{6}q.\) If \(S\) is non-orientable, \(g\leqslant 3q + 1\) and this is sharp. If \(\partial M \neq \emptyset\) and \(S\) has \(b\) boundary components, \(g\leqslant \frac{3}{2}q - (b-1)/2\) and when \(b=2, g=q=1\) this is sharp. If \(S\) is incompressible, \(g\leqslant 1/{2}q\) and this is sharp if \(\partial M \neq \emptyset\) and \(g\geqslant 1 \). If \(M\) has complexity \(c\) and \(S\) is incompressible of minimal genus, \(g \leqslant (2c^2 + 1)(\sqrt6)^c\).