arXiv research

Proofs knot homology connected sums using grid complexes.

We prove a formula for the conjugation action on the knot Floer complex of the connected sum of two knots. Using the formula we construct a homomorphism from the smooth concordance group to an abelian group consisting of chain complexes with homotopy automorphisms, modulo an equivalence relation. Using our connected su…

We show that the Kakimizu complex of a knot may be locally infinite, answering a question of Przytycki--Schultens. We then prove that if a link $L$ only has connected Seifert surfaces and has a locally infinite Kakimizu complex then $L$ is a satellite of either a torus knot, a cable knot or a connected sum, with windin…

New subgroup found in knot homology concordance group.

When two boundary-parabolic representations of knot groups are given, we introduce the connected sum of these representations and show several natural properties including the unique factorization property. Furthermore, the complex volume of the connected sum is the sum of each complex volumes modulo $iπ^2$ and the twi…

We construct families of trivial $2$-knots $K_i$ in $\mathbb{R}^4$ such that the maximal complexity of $2$-knots in any isotopy connecting $K_i$ with the standard unknot grows faster than a tower of exponentials of any fixed height of the complexity of $K_i$. Here we can either construct $K_i$ as smooth embeddings and …

We define a "reduced" version of the knot Floer complex $CFK^-(K)$, and show that it behaves well under connected sums and retains enough information to compute Heegaard Floer $d$-invariants of manifolds arising as surgeries on the knot $K$. As an application to connected sums, we prove that if a knot in the three-sphe…

The paper proves a linear diameter bound for hyperbolic knot complexes.

New method generates optical vortices in any knot shape.

In 1992, Osamu Kakimizu defined a complex that has become known as the Kakimizu complex of a knot. Vertices correspond to isotopy classes of minimal genus Seifert surfaces of the knot. Higher dimensional simplices correspond to collections of such classes of Seifert surfaces that admit disjoint representatives. We show…

Proves properties of instanton knot Floer homology and connected sum formula.

The paper constructs exotic knotted surfaces and curves in 4-manifolds.

Embedding calculus invariants solve knot connectivity and grope cobordism problems.

New hyperbolic knots with convex Upsilon invariants constructed.

Graphs with given k vertices generate an (acyclic) simplicial complex. We describe the homology of its quotient complex, formed by all connected graphs, and demonstrate its applications to the topology of braid groups, knot theory, combinatorics, and singularity theory. The multidimensional analogues of this complex ar…

We show that there are hyperbolic tunnel-number one knots with arbitrarily high bridge number and that "most" tunnel-number one knots are not one-bridge with respect to an unknotted torus. The proof relies on a connection between bridge number and a certain distance in the curve complex of a genus-two surface.

For a knot $K$, Kakimizu introduced a simplicial complex whose vertices are all the isotopy classes of minimal genus spanning surfaces for $K$. The first purpose of this paper is to prove the 1-skeleton of this complex has diameter bounded by a function quadratic in knot genus, whenever $K$ is atoroidal. The second pur…

We define and study a bigraded knot invariant whose Euler characteristic is the Alexander polynomial, closely connected to knot Floer homology. The invariant is the homology of a chain complex whose generators correspond to Kauffman states for a knot diagram. The definition uses decompositions of knot diagrams: to a co…

Agent finds unknotting sequences for complex knots.

In this note we use Heegaard Floer homology to study smooth cobordisms of algebraic knots and complex deformations of cusp singularities of curves. The main tool will be the concordance invariant $ν^+$: we study its behaviour with respect to connected sums, providing an explicit formula in the case of L-space knots and…

A theory of complexity for pairs (M,G) with M an arbitrary closed 3-manifold and G a 3-valent graph in M was introduced by the first two named authors, extending the original notion due to Matveev. The complexity c is known to be always additive under connected sum away from the graphs, but not always under connected s…

Characterizes character varieties of generalized torus knot groups.

New method connects knot Floer homology with bordered Floer homology.

This article surveys the use of configuration space integrals in the study of the topology of knot and link spaces. The main focus is the exposition of how these integrals produce finite type invariants of classical knots and links. More generally, we also explain the construction of a chain map, given by configuration…

New tile types for knots and links reduce complexity.

Study on distinguishing mutant knots using specific representations.

We explore a somewhat unexpected connection between knot Floer homology and shellable posets, via grid diagrams. Given a grid presentation of a knot K inside S^3, we define a poset which has an associated chain complex whose homology is the knot Floer homology of K. We then prove that the closed intervals of this poset…

New spanning tree model connects knot homology, s-invariant, and exotic discs.

Connected sum affects crossing numbers of flat virtual knots.

Bridge trisections and knotted surfaces connected via tri-plane diagrams.

Formula connects knot complements' invariants.

Explains how knots relate to 4D shapes.

A non-singular connected algebraic curve $A$ in a simply connected algebraic surface $X$ can be knotted so that its homology class and the fundamental group of its complement in $X$ is preserved, provided $A$ is sufficiently complex (not too ``rigid''). For example, it is true if $A$ admits a degeneration to an irreduc…

Given any closed, connected, orientable $3$--manifold and integers $g\geq g(M), D > 0$, we show the existence of knots in $M$ whose genus $g$ bridge number is greater than $D$. These knots lie in a page of an open book decomposition of $M$, and the proof proceeds by examining the action of the map induced by the monodr…

New tiles allow efficient knot mosaics for small knots.

The A-polynomial of a knot in S^3 defines a complex plane curve associated to the set of representations of the fundamental group of the knot exterior into SL(2,C). Here, we show that a non-trivial knot in S^3 has a non-trivial A-polynomial. We deduce this from the gauge-theoretic work of Kronheimer and Mrowka on SU_2-…

How do Seifert surgeries on hyperbolic knots arise from those on torus knots? We approach this question from a networking viewpoint. The Seifert Surgery Network is a 1-dimensional complex whose vertices correspond to Seifert surgeries; two vertices are connected by an edge if one Seifert surgery is obtained from the ot…

If a knot is a nontrivial connected sum of positive torus knots, then it is not concordant to an L-space knot.

The singular instanton Floer homology was defined by Kronheimer and Mrowka in connection with their proof that the Khovanov homology is an unknot detector. We study this theory for knots and two-component links using equivariant gauge theory on their double branched covers. We show that the special generator in the sin…

We study the classification of slice disks of knots up to isotopy and diffeomorphism using an invariant in knot Floer homology. We compute the invariant of a slice disk obtained by deform-spinning, and show that it can be effectively used to distinguish non-isotopic slice disks with diffeomorphic complements. Given a s…

We prove that, given any knot $γ$ in a compact 3-manifold M, there exists a Riemannian metric on M such that there is a complex-valued eigenfunction u of the Laplacian, corresponding to the first nontrivial eigenvalue, whose nodal set $u^{-1}(0)$ has a connected component given by $γ$. Higher dimensional analogs of thi…

Paper proves corner connection tiles can represent knots with fewer tiles.

Study shows space writhe closely correlates with knot signature in polymers.

Meier and Zupan showed that every surface in the four-sphere admits a bridge trisection and can therefore be represented by three simple tangles. This raises the possibility of applying methods from link homology to knotted surfaces. We use link homology to construct an invariant of knotted surfaces (up to isotopy) whi…

We associate several invariants to a knot in an integer homology 3-sphere using $SU(2)$ singular instanton gauge theory. There is a space of framed singular connections for such a knot, equipped with a circle action and an equivariant Chern-Simons functional, and our constructions are morally derived from the associate…

Study connects knot polynomials with number theory sums.

The study connects knot crossing numbers to surface properties and tunnel numbers.

New knot invariant λ bounds rational unknotting.