On the geometric and the algebraic rank of graph manifolds (Q952983)

Let \(M\) be an orientable closed 3-manifold. It is well known that \(g(M)\geq r(m)\) where \(g(M)\) denotes the \textit{Heegaard genus} of \(M\) and \(r(M)\) denotes the rank of \(\pi_1(M)\) i.e.\ the minimal number of generators of the fundamental group \(\pi_1(M)\). \textit{M. Boileau} and \textit{H. Zieschang} gave the first examples of 3-manifolds for which \(g(M)>r(M)\) [Invent. Math. 76, 455--468 (1984; Zbl 0538.57004)]. These examples are Seifert fibered manifolds with \(g(M)=3\) and \(r(M)=2\). \textit{Y. Moriah} and \textit{J. Schultens} showed that these examples extend to higher genus: Seifert manifolds whith \(g(M)=n+1\) and \(r(M)=n\) [Topology 37, No.~5, 1089--1112 (1998; Zbl 0926.57016)]. Later \textit{R. Weidmann} gave a class of graph manifolds for which \(g(M)=3\) and \(r(M)=2\) [Arch. Math. 81, No.~5, 589--595 (2003; Zbl 1041.57008)]. In the paper under discussion the authors show how the phenomenon observed by Weid\-mann generalizes and how it can occur multiple times within a single graph manifold. This yields graph manifolds where the difference between \(g(M)\) and \(r(M)\) is arbitrarily high.