The Giroux Correspondence in dimension 3

Abstract

In an earlier paper, the authors proved the Giroux Correspondence for tight contact $3$-manifolds via convex Heegaard surfaces. Simultaneously, Breen, Honda and Huang gave an all-dimensions proof of the Giroux Correspondence by generalising convex surface theory to higher dimensions. This paper uses a key result about relations of bypasses to complete the $3$-dimensional proof for arbitrary (not necessarily tight) contact 3-manifolds. This presentation features low-dimensional techniques and further clarifies the relationship between contact manifolds and their Heegaard splittings.