arXiv research

The Markov Theorem Without Stabilization (MTWS) established the existence of a calculus of braid isotopies that can be used to move between closed braid representatives of a given oriented link type without having to increase the braid index by stabilization. Although the calculus is extensive there are three key isoto…

First geometric proof of the flyping theorem.

The Markov Theorem Without Stabilization (MTWS) (see math.GT/0310279) established the existence of a calculus of braid isotopies that can be used to move between closed braid representatives of a given oriented link type without having to increase the braid index by stabilization. Although the calculus is extensive the…

New invariant for special alternating links based on graph Laplacian.

O. Plamenevskaya associated to each transverse knot K an element of the Khovanov homology of K. In this paper, we give two refinements of Plamenevskaya's invariant, one valued in Bar-Natan's deformation of the Khovanov complex and another as a cohomotopy element of the Khovanov spectrum. We show that the first of these…

When the signed weighted resolution set was defined as an invariant of pseudoknots, it was unknown whether this invariant was complete. Using the Gauss-diagrammatic invariants of pseudoknots introduced by Dorais et al, we show that the signed were-set cannot distinguish all non-equivalent pseudoknots. This goal is achi…

Tait's flyping conjecture, stating that two reduced, alternating, prime link diagrams can be connected by a finite sequence of flypes, is extended to reduced, alternating, prime diagrams of 4-regular graphs in S^3. The proof of this version of the flyping conjecture is based on the fact that the equivalence classes wit…

The flyping theorem is extended to virtual links and surfaces.

A virtual link diagram is called normal if the associated abstract link diagram is checkerboard colorable, and a virtual link is normal if it has a normal diagram as a representative.In this paper, we introduce a method of converting a virtual link diagram to a normal virtual link diagram by use of the double covering …

We introduce a new braid-theoretic framework with which to understand the Legendrian and transversal classification of knots, namely a Legendrian Markov Theorem without Stabilization which induces an associated transversal Markov Theorem without Stabilization. We establish the existence of a nontrivial knot-type specif…

Study counts sub-chord diagrams to classify spherical curves.

Classifies involutions on alternating prime non-split links.

Let Πbe a link projection in S^2. John Conway and later Francis Bonahon and Larry Siebenmann undertook to split $Π$ into canonical pieces. These pieces received different names: basic or polyhedral diagrams on one hand, rational, algebraic, bretzel, arborescent diagrams on the other hand. This paper proposes a thorough…

Let K be a an alternating prime knot in the 3-sphere. We investigate the category of flypes between reduced alternating diagrams for K. As a consequence, we show that any odd prime order action on K is isotopic through maps of pairs to a single flype. This implies that for any odd prime order action on K there is eithe…

The paper studies knots in projective space using virtual link theory.

New invariant for prime alternating knots from error-correcting codes

Essential surfaces in link diagrams on surfaces are crucial for understanding link properties.

New invariants derived from Seifert graphs help distinguish alternating links.

Polynomial algorithm found for alternating link equivalence.

This paper studies periodic and free periodic knots in alternating projections.

Choose any oriented link type X and closed braid representatives X[+], X[-] of X, where X[-] has minimal braid index among all closed braid representatives of X. The main result of this paper is a `Markov theorem without stabilization'. It asserts that there is a complexity function and a finite set of `templates' such…

This paper gives new and elementary combinatorial topological proofs of the classification of unoriented and oriented rational knots and links. These proofs are based on the known classification of alternating knots through flyping, and the calculus of continued fractions. We characterize the class of strongly invertib…

This paper tabulates prime knot projections up to eight double points.

We show that under certain conditions the flyping operation on rational tangles, which produces topologically isotopic tangles, may also produce tangles which are not Legendrian isotopic when viewed in the standard contact structure on $\mathbb{R}^3$. This work is motivated by questions posed by Traynor, and incorporat…

We give an infinite family of knots such that for any given $r \geq 3$, the family contains a knot which can be embedded on a hexagonal $r$-mosaic, but cannot fit on a hexagonal $r$-mosaic in an embedding that achieves its crossing number. This extends the rectangular mosaic result of Ludwig, Evans, and Paat. We also i…

This paper gives two new combinatorial topological proofs of the classification of rational tangles. Each proof rests on an elegant lemma showing that rational tangles are isotopic to canonical alternating rational tangles. The first proof defines the tangle fraction from the canonical form and uses flyping to prove in…

It is shown that, in the 1-jet space of the circle, the swapping and the flyping procedures, which produce topologically equivalent links, can produce nonequivalent legendrian links. Each component of the links considered is legendrian isotopic to the 1-jet of the 0-function, and thus cannot be distinguished by the cla…

Differential graded algebra invariants are constructed for Legendrian links in the 1-jet space of the circle. In parallel to the theory for R^3, Poincare-Chekanov polynomials and characteristic algebras can be associated to such links. The theory is applied to distinguish various knots, as well as links that are closur…

The interior polynomial is an invariant of (signed) bipartite graphs, and the interior polynomial of a plane bipartite graph is equal to a part of the HOMFLY polynomial of a naturally associated link. The HOMFLY polynomial $P_L(v,z)$ is a famous link invariant with many known properties. For example, the HOMFLY polynom…

This paper is devoted to prove the existence of $q$-periodic alternating projections of prime alternating $q$-periodic knots. The main tool is the Menasco-Thistlethwaite's Flyping theorem. Let $K$ be an oriented prime alternating knot that is $q$-periodic with $q\geq 3$, i.e. $K$ admits a symmetry that is a rotation of…

A new knot move preserves pass-move equivalence and differs in count.

It is well known that any two diagrams representing the same oriented link are related by a finite sequence of Reidemeister moves O1, O2 and O3. Depending on orientations of fragments involved in the moves, one may distinguish 4 different versions of each of the O1 and O2 moves, and 8 versions of the O3 move. We introd…

In this paper, we introduce an equivalence relation on the set of local moves and classify local moves, called the extended $ST$-moves, up to the equivalence. Moreover, by inducing a binary relation on the set of equivalence classes of local moves, we show that an extended $ST$-move realizes the crossing change or the …

Minimal sets of moves for isotopic knots and trivalent graphs identified.

The H(n)-move simplifies virtual and welded knots and links.

We prove that the classical set of moves for standard spines of 3-manifolds (i.e. the MP-move and the V-move) does not suffice to relate to each other any two standard skeleta of a 3-manifold with marked boundary. We also describe a condition on the 3-manifold with marked boundary that tells whether the generalised set…

The (ordinary) unknotting-number of 1-dimensional knots, which is defined by using the crossing-change, is a very basic and important invariant. It is very natural to consider the `unknotting-number' associated with other local-moves on n-dimensional knots, where n is a natural number. In this paper we prove the follow…

Classifies virtual links up to a specific move.

New rational band moves simplify knot classification.

We prove that the crossing changes, Delta moves, and sharp moves are unknotting operations on welded knots.

New methods for delta-moves on algebraically split links identified.

Minimal moves for surfaces in 4D discovered, linking planar and spatial moves.

Study virtualized Delta, Sharp, and Pass moves for oriented virtual knots and links.

Minimal generating sets of Reidemeister moves identified and classified.

We start a systematic analysis of links up to 5-move equivalence. Our motivation is to develop tools which later can be used to study skein modules based on the skein relation being deformation of a 5-move (in an analogous way as the Kauffman skein module is a deformation of a 2-move, i.e. a crossing change). Our main …

New diagonal move simplifies knots and links efficiently.

New moves help untangle complex knots.

Minimal moves for surfaces in 4D identified.