The separating disk complex for a handlebody
The separating disk complex \(\mathtt{SD}(V)\) for a genus-\(g\) handlebody \(V\) consists of vertices representing isotopy classes of essential separating disks. A \((k+1)\)-tuple of vertices forms a \(k\)-simplex if their representative disks are pairwise disjoint when \(g \geq 3\), or intersect transversely in exactly four points when \(g = 2\). An elementary separating disk is one that bounds a solid torus in \(V\). The elementary separating disk complex \(\mathtt{SD}_\epsilon(V)\) is defined as the full subcomplex of \(\mathtt{SD}(V)\) generated by such elementary disks.\N\NThis paper provides two different proofs of the connectivity of \(\mathtt{SD}_\epsilon(V)\) for a genus-\(g\) handlebody \(V\) with \(g \geq 2\): one using primitive curves and the other applying Putman's Lemma. Consequently, it follows that the separating disk complex \(\mathtt{SD}(V)\) is also connected. Furthermore, the paper establishes that the separating reducing sphere complex for a double handlebody -- i.e., the connected sum of \(g\) copies of \(S^2 \times S^1\) -- is connected.
This page was built for publication: The separating disk complex for a handlebody
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q7018164)
