Questions tagged [knot-theory]
Knot theory is dealing with embedding of curves in manifolds of dimension 3. A knot is a single circle embedded in the affine space of dimension 3 as a smooth curve not crossing itself. Many knot invariants are known and can be used to distinguish knots.
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255 views
Does the union of all finite groups yield a complete knot invariant for prime knots?
It is established in Whitten - Knot complements and groups together with the Gordon-Luecke theorem (that knot complements determine knot type) that the type of a prime knot is determined by the ...
7
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1answer
133 views
Relation between the Casson-Gordon invariants $\sigma(M, \chi)$ and $\sigma_r(M, \chi)$
Setting: There are two objects in knot theory that are commonly referred to as the Casson-Gordon invariants: the invariant $\sigma$, and the invariant $\tau$ (see for example A. Conway’s notes ...
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Presenting 3-manifolds by planar graphs
From a planar graph $\Gamma$, equipped with an integer-valued weight function $d:E(\Gamma) \sqcup V(\Gamma) \to \mathbb{Z}$, one can build a $3$-manifold $M_{\Gamma}$ as follows. For each vertex $v$, ...
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Monoidal structure on left dg-modules over a brace algebra
Relating to my other question: Modules over Hopf Algebras and $E_2$-algebras
Preliminary: Let $A$ be an associative dg-algebra that is also an algebra over the brace operad. Let $M$ and $N$ be left ...
4
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1answer
171 views
A combinatorial gadget for smoothly slice knots
As far as I searched, I couldn't find something valuable but is there any combinatorial (or computable) gadget for knots to guarantee them to be smoothly slice?
For example, by the virtue of the ...
6
votes
2answers
250 views
Is every element of $Mod(S_{g,1})$ a composition of right handed Dehn twists?
Let $S_{g,1}$ be the surface of genus $g \geq 1$ and $1$ boundary component. Let $Mod(S_{g,1})$ be the mapping class group in which we allow isotopies to rotate the action on the boundary (...
2
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1answer
152 views
effectively distinguishing knots
It was proven, I think by Mijatović EDIT: by Waldhausen, that there is an effective algorithm for distinguishing knot complements (the effective constants were found by Coward and Lackenby). The bound,...
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Is there a knot invariant robust to hiding one part of the diagram behind another?
Is there a well-known knot invariant that can be computed solely by inspecting an arbitrary projection of the knot into the plane (with a marking of each crossing as "over" or "under")?
The reason ...
7
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1answer
291 views
Are there knots that can be distinguished by the Alexander-Conway polynomial, but not the Alexander polynomial?
On page 9 of Kauffman's Formal Knot theory, Kauffman claims
The Alexander-Conway Polynomial is a true refinement of the Alexander Polynomial. Because it is defined absolutely (rather than up to ...
6
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1answer
254 views
Modules over Hopf Algebras and $E_2$-algebras
Justin Young has a paper on the brace bar-cobar duality between hopf algebras and $E_2$-algebras: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1309.2820.pdf
I was wondering if anybody knows of a nice relationship between ...
6
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1answer
162 views
Do an unlinked trefoil and figure-eight cobound an annulus in $B^4$?
Let $K_1$ the trefoil (left or right hopefully does not matter?) and let $K_2$ be the figure-eight knot in $S^3 = \partial B^4$. Are there any smooth properly embedded annulus $A$ in $B^4$ with $\...
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0answers
63 views
Is there a measure of the failure of the Alexander polynomial to distinguish knots?
Has there been any research into something like the ratio of distinct Alexander-indistinguishable knots to total knots (up to some measure of complexity)? This was a random question asked of me by a ...
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2answers
134 views
Which knots are singularities of a hyperbolic cone-manifold structures on $S^3$?
Which knots $K\subseteq S^3$ are such that there is a hyperbolic cone-manifold structure on $S^3$ that has (exactly) $K$ as the singular locus?
What if in Question 1 we restrict the cone angles to be $...
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Common invariants of virtual knots?
When I google invariants of virtual knots (links), there's a bunch of polynomial (and other) invariants, but it's very hard to distinguish which of these are considered as somewhat classical.
In the ...
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1answer
119 views
Basis for Annular Skein Algebra
Background/Notation:
Given the Iwahori-Hecke algebra $H_{n}$ (over some ring commutative ring $R$ with identity) with generators $\{T_{1},\ldots T_{n-1}\}$, we know it has basis
$\{T_{w}\}_{w\in S_{...
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IH-moves on trivalent graphs, and a complex that might be known to low-dimensional topologists
Here is a combinatorial problem which is hard to Google but seems like it might have a solution well known to people who study finite type invariants etc.
Let $G_{g,b}$ denote the set of finite ...
6
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1answer
217 views
HOMFLYPT vs. Jones vs. Alexander polynomial?
I'm searching for examples (perhaps the simplest one?) to show that the HOMFLYPT polynomial is stronger than the Jones and Alexander polynomial, respectively.
Any ideas what is the 1st knot in the ...
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89 views
Relation between different versions of Bar-Natan homology
In Bar-Natan's paper: Khovanov’s homology for tangles and cobordisms, he defined a deformation of Khovanov homology. Namely, for any $m\geq 0$, Bar-Natan's homology $BN^{m}(K)$ is obtained by ...
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0answers
97 views
Brylinski Beta Function Calculation
I've recently read the paper written by Brylinski on the Beta function of a knot, where he gave the example of a trivial "circular" knot. Having a physics background, and not being formally introduced ...
3
votes
1answer
195 views
Framing dependence of HOMFLY polynomial
I want to understand the framing dependence of the Khovanov-Rozansky homology, and as its first step, I am trying to understand the framing dependence of the HOMFLY polynomial (i.e. quantum $sl(n)$ ...
4
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1answer
97 views
Quandle homomorphism does not always induces group homomorphism on inner automorphism groups of quandles
Let $X$ and $Y$ be two quandles and $f: X \rightarrow Y$ be a quandle homomorphism. Then we can define a map $\bar f: Inn(X) \rightarrow Inn(Y)$ as $\bar f(S_a)=S_{f(a)}$, where $a \in X$. Then $\bar ...
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0answers
65 views
Blow-up and Blow-down kirby local moves for non-orientable $3$-manifold
Can anyone explain or give a reference about the Blow-up and Blow-down Kirby local moves for non-orientable $3$-manifolds?
Thanks, advance.
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Multivariate Alexander polynomial vs single variable (Conway) Alexander polynomial
I consider the multivariate Alexander polynomial $\Delta(t_1,\ldots,t_n)$ for a $n$-component link (defined using e.g. the Fox derivative).
If we wish to construct a 1-variable polynomial $A(t)$, we ...
2
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1answer
78 views
How are characterstic polynomials (resp. Alexander polynomials) distributed amongst adjacency matrices (resp. grid diagrams)?
Fix $n$, and consider the characteristic polynomials for all $C=2^{\frac{n(n-1)}{2}}$ adjacency matrices representing undirected, unweighted graphs on $n$ vertices.
Are the characteristic ...
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153 views
Define the 3d Chern-Simons TQFT on a discrete simplicial complex
Question: What is the challenge and the current status to define the 3d Chern-Simons(-Witten) (CSW) theory on a simplicial complex or on a discrete lattice? (Or is there a no-go or an obstruction ...
10
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2answers
229 views
Is the Lisca-Matic bound (aka slice-Bennequin bound) strictly stronger than the Bennequin bound?
The Bennequin bound [1] says that, for a transverse knot (or later link) $K$ in $S^3$,
$$\mathrm{sl}(K) \le - \chi(\Sigma)$$
for any Seifert surface $\Sigma$ for $K$, where $\mathrm{sl}$ is the self-...
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vote
1answer
102 views
“Flat links”, a reference request
A hyperbolic link is one whose complement admits a hyperbolic metric.
Hyperbolic links, and especially hyperbolic knots, are quite popular these days. However, I am currently interested ...
2
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3answers
132 views
Multivariable vs single variable Alexander polynomial for links?
If we take a $n$-component link $L$, we have the multivariable Alexander polynomial $\Delta(L)(t_1,\ldots,t_n)$. Is there a standard single-variable Alexander polynomial? If yes, is it just euqal to $\...
31
votes
3answers
2k views
Why should I care about the Jones polynomial?
The invention of the Jones polynomial led to hundreds of papers and a Fields medal. However, as far as I can tell it had few consequences in topology. After all, after Thurston’s work we already ...
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0answers
159 views
What is an ambient isotopy categorically?
Let $\mathcal T$ be a category of "nice" topological spaces (CW?) and continuous maps between them. We can construct the homotopy category $\mathrm{Ho}\mathcal{T}$ which gives for any two objects $X,Y$...
7
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1answer
198 views
What is the complexity of determining if a knot group is $\mathbb{Z}$?
It is known from the work of Waldhausen that the isomorphism problem for knot groups is decidable. What is then:
The complexity of determining if a knot group is $\mathbb{Z}$? .i.e. same as the ...
9
votes
3answers
236 views
Knots of fixed genus with arbitrarily large volume
Consider all knots with fixed genus $g\ge 2$ (I am considering the classical 3-genus). Do there exist infinite families of genus $g$ knots with arbitrarily large volume?
The answer seems like it ...
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0answers
25 views
Maximum possible crossing number of a restricted tangle family
Let $T$ be a tangle (in the sense of knot theory) on $s$ strands and no loops. In general the crossing number of $T$ is unbounded, as we can twist two strands around each other any number of times. ...
5
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1answer
152 views
Show a sequence of sums involving Catalan Numbers converges
Let $C_n$ be the $n$-th Catalan Number and let $\mathcal{O}_{s,j} = {{2s-j-1}\choose{j}} C_{s-j}^2$. Then we want to consider $\mathcal{E}_s = \sum_{j=0}^{s-1} (-1)^j\mathcal{O}_{s,j}$. We want to ...
4
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1answer
147 views
How disconnected can a Seifert surface be?
Seifert surfaces
The standard definition of a Seifert surface for a link in $S^3$ is an oriented, compact surface embedded in $S^3$, bounding the link. Often, it is assumed to be connected, but given ...
3
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1answer
131 views
Links defined by link-severance tableau
Consider a finite $n$-element classical (real) link and the resulting link structure obtained by cutting each of the component elements (knots). Let us represent the resulting structures in a tableau,...
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143 views
Theory of Irrational Tangles?
According to one possible definition, an $n$-tangle $T$ is a subset $T \subseteq \Bbb{R}^2\times [0,1] =: X$ that is homeomorphic to a disjoint union $[0,1] \times n := [0,1] \amalg \ldots \amalg [0,1]...
22
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1answer
414 views
Tying knots via gravity-assisted spaceship trajectories
Q.
Can every knot be realized as the trajectory of a spaceship
weaving among a finite number of fixed planets, subject to gravity alone?
To make this more ...
3
votes
1answer
146 views
Isotopy extension theorem: how non-unique is ambient isotopy
Let $M$ and $N$ be smooth manifolds. Consider an isotopy of $M$ inside $N$. This means that we have a level preserving embedding $J\colon M\times [0,1] \to N \times [0,1]$. Put $J(x,t)=(\phi_t(x),t)$. ...
48
votes
2answers
2k views
How to add essentially new knots to the universe?
A knot is an embedding of a circle $S^{1}$ in $3$-dimensional Euclidean space, $\mathbb{R}^3$. Knots are considered equivalent under ambient isotopy. There are two different types of knots, tame and ...
4
votes
2answers
242 views
Why are two diffeomorphims of $R^n$ are always homotopic (in the same category)?
Where can one find the proof of the following fact:
If there are two orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms $\phi_0$ and $\phi_1$ of $R^n$, then there exists a homotopy $\phi(t)$, such that $\phi(0)$...
5
votes
1answer
203 views
Conformal boundary and cusp of figure-8 complement
As we know the figure-8 ($4_1$) complement can be obtained by quotienting $\mathbb{H}^3$ with an arithmetic Kleinian group, which has index 12 inside $PSL(2,\mathcal{O}_3)$. The resulting complete ...
5
votes
1answer
198 views
Knot Factorization Homology inputs
Following the paper by Ayala, Francis, and Tanaka: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1409.0848.pdf
If we are talking about knots we are talking about framed 3-manifolds with a framed 1-dimensional sub-manifold ...
4
votes
1answer
125 views
Presentations of the monoidal categories of virtual tangles and of welded tangles by generators and relations
Reidemeister theorem implies, without too much fuss, that the monoidal categories of tangles, and of oriented tangles, can be presented by generators and relations. This is done for example in
a) ...
15
votes
2answers
821 views
Link such that deleting any two components leaves an unlink
Brunnian links are well known, where deleting any component allows you to isotope the rest to an unlink. It's common to construct them by taking an $n-1$ component unlink and defining the $n$th ...
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0answers
52 views
Resolving a mismatch in indexing conventions of knot/link Floer homologies
I have trouble matching the indexing conventions for Ozsvath-Szabo's knot Floer homology with link Floer homology.
Say we have a knot $K$ in a 3-sphere. Then we can consider the filtered chain ...
10
votes
2answers
306 views
Tangled random triangles: One giant component?
Suppose you have $n$ triangles whose corners are random points on a sphere $S$
in $\mathbb{R}^3$.
Viewing the triangles as built from rigid bars as edges,
two triangles are linked if they cannot be ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
Can we compute the Tristram–Levine signatures of a knot in $S^3$ using Jacobian with Fox partial derivatives?
My question is in the tittle:
Can we compute the Tristram–Levine signatures of a knot in $S^3$ using Jacobian with Fox partial derivatives?
If the answer is yes, is there a reference for this.
9
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0answers
127 views
Interactions between pseudoline arrangements and braid groups?
It is common to represent
pseudoline arrangements
as wiring diagrams:
Fig. from: "Hamiltonicity and colorings of arrangement ...
7
votes
1answer
306 views
Does annular Khovanov homology detect the unknot (in annulus)?
Recently Kronheimer and Mrowka showed that Khovanov homology detects the unknot. It's still not known if the Jones polynomial detects the unknot.
Does annular Khovanov homology detect the unknot in ...
