An equivalent description of the lens space L(p,q) with p prime

Abstract

In the paper, we give an equivalent description of the lens space [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] prime in terms of any corresponding Heegaard diagrams as follows: Let [Formula: see text] be a closed orientable 3-manifold with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] a Heegaard splitting of genus [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] with an associated Heegaard diagram [Formula: see text]. Assume [Formula: see text] is a prime integer. Then [Formula: see text] is homeomorphic to the lens space [Formula: see text] if and only if there exists an embedding [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] bounds a complete system of surfaces for [Formula: see text].