An algorithm to determine the Heegaard genus of a 3-manifold (Q551154)

The author proved in [Invent. Math. 167, No.~1, 135--177 (2007; Zbl 1109.57012)] that a closed, irreducible, atoroidal \(3\)-manifold admits only finitely many Heegard splittings of a given genus. The paper under review gives a new proof for this theorem, that is algorithmic in nature, while the former proof used compactness arguments. Thus, starting from a \(0\)-efficient triangulation and a certain collection of branched surfaces the argument produces a finite list (possibly with repetitions) of all Heegard splittings of given genus. In particular this gives an algorithm for determining the Heegard genus of atoroidal \(3\)-manifolds. An algorithm for toroidal \(3\)-manifolds exists due to [\textit{K. Johannson}, Topology and combinatorics of \(3\)-manifolds. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. 1599. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. (1995; Zbl 0820.57001)].