Oriented ribbon graphs (dessins d'enfant) are graphs embedded in oriented surfaces. The Bollobás-Riordan-Tutte polynomial is a three-variable polynomial that extends the Tutte polynomial to oriented ribbon graphs. A quasi-tree of a ribbon graph is a spanning subgraph with one face, which is described by an ordered chor…
Oriented ribbon graphs (dessins d'enfant) are graphs embedded in oriented surfaces. A quasi-tree of a ribbon graph is a spanning subgraph with one face, which is described by an ordered chord diagram. We show that for any link diagram L, there is an associated ribbon graph whose quasi-trees correspond bijectively to …
A new approach to Morse theory using folded ribbon trees.
problem Applying Morse theory on symmetric products of surfaces.
method Introducing an A-infinity category with objects as κ-tuples of Morse functions, and showing conditions for the endomorphism to be a Hecke algebra.
result The endomorphism of a specific type of κ-tuple of Morse functions on T*R^2 is the Hecke algebra associated to the symmetric group.
We show that a group presented by a labelled oriented tree presentation in which the tree has diameter at most three is an HNN extension of a finitely presented group. From results of Silver, it then follows that the corresponding higher dimensional ribbon knots admit minimal Seifert manifolds.
We introduce Khovanov homology for ribbon graphs and show that the Khovanov homology of a certain ribbon graph embedded on the Turaev surface of a link is isomorphic to the Khovanov homology of the link (after a grading shift). We also present a spanning quasi-tree model for the Khovanov homology of a ribbon graph.
Counterexamples to a conjecture on ribbon graph genus changes were found and proven.
problem A conjecture on genus changes in ribbon graphs was formulated and disproven.
method A family of counterexamples was found and proven.
result Essentially, the counterexamples found by Qi Yan and Xian'an Jin are the only ones.
The paper defines and explores Coxeter type LOTs for ribbon 2-knots.
problem Validity of Whitehead's asphericity conjecture for Ribbon 2-knots.
method Definition and analysis of Coxeter type LOTs and their groups.
result Existence of prime LOTs of Coxeter type with specified rank.
Study of n-cylinder surfaces to calculate Masur-Veech volumes.
problem Calculating Masur-Veech volumes for hyperbolic surfaces.
method Combinatorial approach using metric ribbon graphs and plane trees.
result Found generating function for n-cylinder contributions. Relative notions of combinatorial asphericity have been used to prove that injective labeled oriented trees (which encode spines of ribbon 2-knots) are aspherical. This article presents an overview and comparison of the different notions of relative combinatorial asphericity. It also contains new results concerning cha…
This article introduces planar ribbons, Vergili ribbon complexes and ribbon nerves in Alexandroff-Hopf-Whitehead CW (Closure finite Weak) topological spaces. A {\em planar ribbon} (briefly, {ribbon}) in a CW space is the closure of a pair of nesting, non-concentric filled cycles that includes the boundary but does not …
In a previous paper, we introduced special types of fusions, so called simple-ribbon fusions on links. A knot obtained from the trivial knot by a finite sequence of simple-ribbon fusions is called a simple-ribbon knot. Every ribbon knot with <10 crossings is a simple-ribbon knot. In this paper, we give a formula for th…
In "A survey on the Turaev genus of knots," Champanerkar and Kofman propose several open questions. The first asks whether the polynomial whose coefficients count the number of quasi-trees of the all-A ribbon graph obtained from a diagram with minimal Turaev genus is an invariant of the knot. We answer negatively by sh…
It is shown that any handle-irreducible summand of every stable-ribbon surface-link is a unique ribbon surface-link up to equivalences, so that every stable-ribbon surface-link is a ribbon surface-link. This is a generalization of a previously observed result for a stably trivial surface-link. Two observations are give…
New bounds found for ribbon numbers of knots and links.
problem Finding bounds for the ribbon number of knots and links.
method Using determinant and Jones polynomial, we find new lower bounds and prove the finiteness of certain sets.
result We determine the set of Jones polynomials for ribbon knots with 11 or fewer crossings.
The paper describes the structure of injective LOT-complexes and proves they are aspherical.
problem The unresolved asphericity question for labeled oriented trees encoding spines of ribbon discs.
method Complete description of the link of a reduced injective LOT complex, proving asphericity.
result Reduced injective LOT complexes are aspherical, with specific conditions for non-boundary sub-LOTs.
Study on folded ribbon knots and their minimum length.
problem Finding the minimum length of folded ribbon knots.
method Using Kauffman's model of folded ribbon knots and analyzing their properties.
result Proved bounds on the minimum folded ribbonlength for various types of knots.
We study the ribbon discs that arise from a symmetric union presentation of a ribbon knot. A natural notion of symmetric ribbon number is introduced and compared with the classical ribbon number. We show that the gap between these numbers can be arbitrarily large by constructing an infinite family of ribbon knots with …
In this paper, we analyze the Bollobás and Riordan polynomial R for ribbon graphs with half-ribbons introduced in [Combinatorics, Probability and Computing 31, 507-549, 2022]. We prove the universality property of a multivariate version of R whereas R itself turns out to be universal…
Author provides an alternate proof of the free ribbon lemma.
problem Proving that every free sphere-link in the 4-sphere is a ribbon sphere-link.
method An alternate proof of the free ribbon lemma.
result Provides an alternate proof of the free ribbon lemma.
Extends Heisenberg homology to ribbon graphs.
problem Configurations in bounded surfaces.
method Regular thickening of ribbon graphs.
result Heisenberg homology applied to ribbon graphs.
New knots bound multiple non-isotopic ribbon disks.
problem Finding knots that bound multiple non-isotopic ribbon disks.
method Classification of fibered, homotopy-ribbon disks for generalized square knots.
result Infinitely many knots bound infinitely many pairwise non-isotopic ribbon disks.
The paper calculates ribbon numbers for 12-crossing knots using Alexander polynomials.
problem Determining the minimum number of ribbon singularities for knots.
method Using Alexander polynomials and systematic treatment of knot invariants.
result Computed ribbon numbers for many 12-crossing knots.
Study Alexander polynomials of ribbon and virtual knots using ribbon's intrinsic singularity.
problem Determining Alexander polynomials for ribbon and virtual knots.
method Using ribbon's intrinsic singularity information, defining half Alexander polynomial, and developing simplified formulas.
result New formulas for Alexander polynomials of general knots and virtual knots in terms of Gauss diagrams.
Study knots that divide ribbon knotted surfaces, computing their half ribbon genus and fusion number.
problem Understanding knots that divide ribbon knotted surfaces and their properties.
method Defining half ribbon knots, computing half ribbon genus and fusion number, and comparing with Levine-Tristram signatures.
result Computed half ribbon genus and fusion number for various knots, including new computations of doubly slice genus.
Ribbon cobordism forms a partial order in 3-manifolds.
problem Understanding partial orders in 3-manifolds.
method Utilizing recent methods from Ian Agol's work on knot concordance.
result Ribbon rational homology cobordism forms a partial order.
New concept of quasi-ribbon surface-links simplifies complex surface-links.
problem Complexity in surface-links of trivial components.
method Introducing quasi-ribbon surface-links as a generalization of ribbon surface-links.
result Every F-link of trivial components on a surface F with at most one aspheric component is a quasi-ribbon surface-link.
New algorithm speeds up knot polynomial calculations.
problem Computing Reshetikhin--Turaev knot polynomials efficiently.
method Fixed-parameter tractable computation via tensor networks.
result Knot polynomial computations are fixed-parameter tractable.
Paper studies metric ribbon graphs and provides a recursion for their volumes.
problem Calculating volumes of combinatorial moduli spaces of directed metric ribbon graphs.
method Decomposes directed ribbon graphs into simpler graphs with one vertex, proving a canonical recursion scheme for volumes.
result Explicit recursion for volumes of four-valent metric ribbon graphs provided.
Study shows not all ribbon knots can be symmetric unions.
problem Whether every ribbon knot can be a symmetric union.
method Exhibited a specific ribbon Montesinos knot that cannot be a symmetric union.
result Found a ribbon knot that is not a symmetric union.
Solves Skopenkov's problem on graph embedding criteria.
problem Criteria for toroidal embedding of one-vertex ribbon graphs.
method Analyzes one-vertex ribbon graphs with additional disc structure.
result Provides solutions to Skopenkov's problem.
We prove recognition theorems for codimension one manifold factors of dimension n≥4. In particular, we formalize topographical methods and introduce three ribbons properties: the crinkled ribbons property, the twisted crinkled ribbons property, and the fuzzy ribbons property. We show that X×R i…
We develop the concept of Cartan ribbons together with a rolling-based method to ribbonize and approximate any given surface in space by intrinsically flat ribbons. The rolling requires that the geodesic curvature along the contact curve on the surface agrees with the geodesic curvature of the corresponding Cartan deve…
Classifies fibered ribbon pretzels, except for a few cases.
problem Classifying fibered ribbon pretzel knots up to mutation.
method Combining lattice embedding techniques with Gabai's classification of fibered pretzel knots, and exhibiting ribbon disks.
result Complete classification except for a few cases.
This paper investigates symmetric ribbon numbers of low-complexity knots.
problem Determining the minimum number of ribbon singularities in symmetric ribbon disks for knots with up to 12 crossings.
method Systematic investigation using knot polynomials and determinants.
result Novel lower bounds for symmetric ribbon numbers of knots with up to 12 crossings.
Free surface-links are shown to be ribbon links.
problem Characterizing surface-links as ribbon links.
method Four proofs are provided, including a stabilization approach.
result Every free surface-link is a ribbon surface-link.
Revised proof shows ribbonness of surface-links in 4-sphere.
problem Determining ribbonness of surface-links in 4-sphere.
method Surgery along fusion 1-handle systems to prove ribbonness.
result Surface-links in 4-sphere are ribbon if certain conditions are met.
We study the relationship between fibered ribbon 1-knots and fibered ribbon 2-knots by studying fibered slice disks with handlebody fibers. We give a characterization of fibered homotopy-ribbon disks and give analogues of the Stallings twist for fibered disks and 2-knots. As an application, we produce infinite families…
The paper defines cyclic sets from ribbon string links and connects them to quantum invariants.
problem Defining and relating cyclic sets from ribbon string links.
method Endowing ribbon string links with cyclic and cocyclic structures, relating to coend of a ribbon category via quantum invariants.
result Established a relationship between ribbon string links and quantum invariants.
Prove strong ribbon concordance induces a partial order on links, certify minimality for a handful of knots, and find minimal ribbon minimal knots.
problem Prove strong ribbon concordance induces a partial order on links.
method Use results from knot Floer homology to certify minimality under the ribbon partial order.
result Certify minimality for a handful of knots and find minimal ribbon minimal knots.
Study ribbon homology concordances using link Floer homology.
problem Understanding ribbon homology concordances and their effects on link Floer homology.
method Combining results from Daemi, Lidman, Vela-Vick, Wong, and Zemke, using link Floer homology and torsion submodules.
result Ribbon homology concordances induce split injections on HFL−. A closer look at an example introduced by Livingston & Melvin and later studied by Miyazaki shows that a plumbing of two fibered ribbon knots (along their fiber surfaces) may be algebraically slice yet not ribbon.
Sharp knots and iterated cables lead to ribbon knots or failure of slice-ribbon conjecture.
problem Understanding the concordance properties of knots and their cables.
method Using Seifert genus and concordance invariant γ0 from bordered Heegaard Floer homology.
result Connected sums of γ0-sharp fibered knots are ribbon only if they are of a specific form, or the slice-ribbon conjecture fails.
New equivalence relation on ribbon graphs connects to virtual links.
problem Understanding virtual links through ribbon graphs.
method Introducing a new equivalence relation on ribbon graphs.
result Correspondence between virtual links and ribbon graphs.
In this paper we consider minors of ribbon graphs (or, equivalently, cellularly embedded graphs). The theory of minors of ribbon graphs differs from that of graphs in that contracting loops is necessary and doing this can create additional vertices and components. Thus the ribbon graph minor relation is incompatible wi…
Study ribbon concordance and minimal compressions, proving new results about fibered knots.
problem Understanding ribbon concordance and minimal compressions of surface homeomorphisms.
method Proving monotonicity of simplicial volume and dilatation under ribbon concordance, algorithmic enumeration of minimal compressions.
result Every fibered knot has only finitely many predecessors in the ribbon-concordance partial order.
New ribbon disks in 4D space, non-isotopic to each other.
problem Non-isotopic ribbon disks in 4D.
method Using corks to construct diffeomorphic ribbon disks.
result Non-isotopic ribbon disks constructed in 4D.
New theorem for 4D links simplifies characterisation problem.
problem Long-standing open problem in link characterisation.
method Reidemeister Theorem for solid ribbon torus links.
result Complete characterisation of a related class of links.
Kervaire's sphere-link is equivalent to a ribbon sphere-link, simplifying complex 2-complexes.
problem Understanding the structure of 2-complexes and their asphericity.
method Using Kervaire's sphere-link and ribbon sphere-link equivalence, analyzing the compact complement of ribbon disk-links.
result Every connected subcomplex of a contractible finite 2-complex is aspherical.