The curves not carried

Abstract

Suppose $τ$ is a train track on a surface $S$. Let $C(τ)$ be the set of isotopy classes of simple closed curves carried by $τ$. Masur and Minsky [2004] prove $C(τ)$ is quasi-convex inside the curve complex $C(S)$. We prove the complement, $C(S) - C(τ)$, is quasi-convex.

12 pages, 9 figures. Improved exposition in Section 2. Fixed a mistake in the proof of Lemma 5.4