Shortest k-Geodesics on Hyperbolic Surfaces

Abstract

We study the relationship between the lengths of closed geodesics on hyperbolic surfaces and their topological complexity, measured by the self-intersection number. In particular, we provide explicit upper bounds for the length $s_k(X)$ of a shortest closed geodesic with exactly $k$ self-intersections in terms of the length $L_\textswab{8}(X)$ of a shortest figure eight curve, improving Basmajian's estimate. We analyze the geometry of a shortest figure eight curve and explicitly build families of words in $\ddot{I}{€}_1(X)$ whose geodesic representatives realize prescribed self-intersection numbers. As a consequence, we improve existing estimates on the maximal self-intersection number $I_k(X)$ of shortest geodesics with at least $k$ self-intersections, reducing the asymptotic upper bound from 512 to 128. This provides a sharper quantitative connection between the geometry and combinatorial complexity of non-simple closed geodesics on hyperbolic surfaces.