arXiv research

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…

New knots are found to be non-simple in Legendrian contact geometry.

Simple knots in lens spaces fiber if their order doesn't divide certain Euclidean remainders.

The paper finds braid representatives minimizing simple walks for knots.

The paper conjectures Khovanov homology can distinguish torus and twist knots.

We classify the simple sheaves microsupported along the conormal bundle of a knot. We also establish a correspondence between simple sheaves up to local systems and augmentations, explaining the underlying reason why knot contact homology representations detect augmentations.

New examples of non-simple knots in Lens spaces show rich botany.

By proving a connected sum formula for the Legendrian invariant $λ_+$ in knot Floer homology we exhibit infinitely many transversely non simple knots.

We call a knot in the 3-sphere $SU(2)$-simple if all representations of the fundamental group of its complement which map a meridian to a trace-free element in $SU(2)$ are binary dihedral. This is a generalisation of being a 2-bridge knot. Pretzel knots with bridge number $\geq 3$ are not $SU(2)$-simple. We provide an …

We prove that the class of topological knot types that are both Legendrian simple and satisfy the uniform thickness property (UTP) is closed under cabling. An immediate application is that all iterated cabling knot types that begin with negative torus knots are Legendrian simple. We also examine, for arbitrary numbers …

Final revision. To appear in the Journal of Differential Geometry. This paper studies knots that are transversal to the standard contact structure in $\reals^3$, bringing techniques from topological knot theory to bear on their transversal classification. We say that a transversal knot type $\cTK$ is {\it transversally…

By examining knot Floer homology, we extend a result of Ozsváth and Stipsicz and show further infinitely many Legendrian and transversely non-simple knot types among two-bridge knots. We give sufficient conditions of Legendrian and transverse non-simplicity on the continued fraction expansion of the corresponding ratio…

In this note we study Legendrian and transverse knots in the knot type of a (p,q)-cable of a knot K in 3-sphere. We give two structural theorems that describe when the (p,q)-cable of a Legendrian simple knot type K is also Legendrian simple.

A knot type is exchange reducible if an arbitrary closed n-braid representative can be changed to a closed braid of minimum braid index by a finite sequence of braid isotopies, exchange moves and +/- destabilizations. In the manuscript [J Birman and NC Wrinkle, On transversally simple knots, preprint (1999)] a transver…

We study Legendrian knots in a cabled knot type. Specifically, given a topological knot type K, we analyze the Legendrian knots in knot types obtained from K by cabling, in terms of Legendrian knots in the knot type K. As a corollary of this analysis, we show that the (2,3)-cable of the (2,3)-torus knot is not transver…

We prove that an iterated torus knot type fails the uniform thickness property (UTP) if and only if all of its iterations are positive cablings, which is precisely when an iterated torus knot type supports the standard contact structure. We also show that all iterated torus knots that fail the UTP support cabling knot …

Construct petal diagrams from simple braids to verify knot petal numbers.

The paper reconfirms a lower bound on rational genus using Heegaard Floer homology.

Given a one-dimensional homology class in a lens space, a question related to the Berge conjecture on lens space surgeries is to determine all knots realizing the minimal rational genus of all knots in this homology class. It is known that simple knots are rational genus minimizers. In this paper, we construct many non…

We prove a complete classification theorem for loose Legendrian knots in an oriented 3-manifold, generalizing results of Dymara and Ding-Geiges. Our approach is to classify knots in a $3$-manifold $M$ that are transverse to a nowhere-zero vector field $V$ up to the corresponding isotopy relation. Such knots are called …

The paper defines and computes a knot complement invariant for simple links.

Simple condition proves when 2-bridge knots are quasipositive.

We complete the first step in a two-part program proposed by Baker, Grigsby, and the author to prove that Berge's construction of knots in the three-sphere which admit lens space surgeries is complete. The first step, which we prove here, is to show that a knot in a lens space with a three-sphere surgery has simple (in…

New graph shows edge deletion/contraction doesn't always result in intrinsically linked graphs.

Research finds bounds for knots in hexagonal lattice and classifies 11-stick knots.

The paper classifies a special family of knots in lens spaces using knot Floer homology.

Simple proof of knot genus theorem using Alexander polynomial.

We give some remarks on two closely related issues as stated in the title. In particular we show that a Montesinos knot is SU(2)-simple if and only if it is a 2-bridge knot, extending a result of Zentner for 3-tangle summand pretzel knots. We conjecture with some evidence that an SU(2)-cyclic rational homology 3-sphere…

The main result of this paper is a negative answer to the question: are all transversal knot types transversally simple? An explicit infinite family of examples is given of closed 3-braids that define transversal knot types that are not transversally simple. The method of proof is topological and indirect.

Introduces a Cost function to measure Legendrian knot obstructions.

Every knot can be transformed into an unknot without cutting.

We consider the existence of simple closed geodesics or "geodesic knots" in finite volume orientable hyperbolic 3-manifolds. Previous results show that at least one geodesic knot always exists [Bull. London Math. Soc. 31(1) (1999) 81-86], and that certain arithmetic manifolds contain infinitely many geodesic knots [J. …

We show that if a positive integral surgery on a knot K inside a homology sphere X with Seifert genus g(K) results in an induced knot K_n in X_n(K)=Y which has simple Floer homology, we should have n>=2g(K). Moreover, if X is the standard sphere, the three-manifold Y is a L-space and the Heegaard Floer homology groups …

A minimal knot is the intersection of a topologically embedded branched minimal disk in $\mathbb{R}^4$ $\mathbb{C}^2$ with a small sphere centered at the branch point. When the lowest order terms in each coordinate component of the embedding of the disk in $\mathbb{C}^2$ are enough to determine the knot type, we talk …

Positive braid knots have simple knot Floer homology.

We study decomposition into simple arcs (i. e., arcs without self-intersections) for diagrams of knots and spatial graphs. In this paper, it is proved in particular that if no edge of a finite spatial graph $G$ is a knotted loop, then there exists a plane diagram $D$ of $G$ such that (i) each edge of $G$ is represented…

We consider knot theories possessing a {\em parity}: each crossing is decreed {\em odd} or {\em even} according to some universal rule. If this rule satisfies some simple axioms concerning the behaviour under Reidemeister moves, this leads to a possibility of constructing new invariants and proving minimality and non-t…

We study the behavior of Legendrian and transverse knots under the operation of connected sums. As a consequence we show that there exist Legendrian knots that are not distinguished by any known invariant. Moreover, we classify Legendrian knots in some non-Legendrian simple knot types.

In 1982 Louis Kauffman conjectured that if a knot in the 3-sphere is a slice knot then on any Seifert surface for that knot there exists a homologically essential simple closed curve of self-linking zero which is itself a slice knot, or at least has Arf invariant zero. Since that time, considerable evidence has been am…

Hedden defined two knots in each lens space that, through analogies with their knot Floer homology and doubly pointed Heegaard diagrams of genus one, may be viewed as generalizations of the two trefoils in S^3. Rasmussen shows that when the `left-handed' one is in the homology class of the dual to a Berge knot of type …

We give a simple obstruction for a knot to be amphichiral, in terms of the homology of the 2-fold branched cover. We work with unoriented knots, and so obstruct both positive and negative amphichirality.

One type of switch simplifies operations on lattice knots.

Knotted trivalent graphs (KTGs) form a rich algebra with a few simple operations: connected sum, unzip, and bubbling. With these operations, KTGs are generated by the unknotted tetrahedron and Moebius strips. Many previously known representations of knots, including knot diagrams and non-associative tangles, can be tur…

We show that if K is a non-trivial knot inside a homology sphere X, the rank of the knot Floer homology group associated with K is strictly bigger than the rank of the Heegaard Floer homology group associated with X.

We deduce from a rooted tree in the disk a slalom divide and a slalom knot. A slalom knot is either the local link of a simple plane curve singularity of type A_2n, E_6, E_8 or a fibered hyperbolic knot with very special monodromy.

Characterizes unknotted curves on Seifert surfaces of twist knots.

In Theorem 1.2 of the paper math.GT/0002110 the author claimed to have proved that all transversal knots whose topological knot type is that of an iterated torus knot (we call them cable knots) are transversally simple. That theorem is false, and the Erratum math.GT/0610565 identifies the gap. The purpose of this paper…

Unique simple spines of homotopy 2-spheres are shown to be ambiently isotopic.