arXiv research

Unitons, i.e.\ harmonic spheres in a unitary group, correspond to \lq uniton bundles\rq, i.e.\ holomorphic bundles over the compactified tangent space to the complex line with certain triviality and other properties. In this paper, we use a monad representation similar to Donaldson's representation of instanton bundles…

We use the compactified twistor correspondence for the (2+1)-dimensional integrable chiral model to prove a conjecture of Ward. In particular, we construct the correspondence space of a compactified twistor fibration and use it to prove that the second Chern numbers of the holomorphic vector bundles, corresponding to t…

Extends harmonic map theory to arbitrary surfaces.

This is primarily a survey of the developments in the theory of harmonic maps of finite uniton number (or unitons) which have taken place since the introduction of extended solutions by Uhlenbeck. Such maps include all harmonic maps from the two-sphere to a compact Lie group or symmetric space. Extended solutions are e…

We classify all harmonic maps with finite uniton number from a Riemann surface into an arbitrary compact simple Lie group $G$, whether $G$ has trivial centre or not, in terms of certain pieces of the Bruhat decomposition of the group $Ω_\mathrm{alg}{G}$ of algebraic loops in $G$ and corresponding canonical elements. Th…

We establish explicit formulae for canonical factorizations of extended solutions corresponding to harmonic maps of finite uniton number into the exceptional Lie group $G_2$ in terms of the Grassmannian model for the group of based algebraic loops in $G_2$. A description of the ``Frenet frame data" for such harmonic ma…

We show that a twistor construction of Hitchin and Ward can be adapted to study unitons (harmonic spheres in a unitary group). Specifically, we show that unitons are equivalent to holomorphic bundles with extra structure over a rational ruled surface with energy given by Chern class. This equivalence allows us to confi…

We present an explicit description of all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface into a complex Grassmannian. Namely, starting from a constant map $Q$ and a collection of meromorphic functions and their derivatives, we show how to algebraically construct all harmonic maps from the two-sphere into …

Uhlenbeck introduced an invariant, the (minimal) uniton number, of harmonic 2-spheres in a Lie group G and proved that when G=SU(n) the uniton number cannot exceed n-1. In this paper, using new methods inspired by Morse Theory, we explain this result and extend it to an arbitrary compact group G. The same methods also …

Paper develops a new method for harmonic maps into symmetric spaces.

We show that given a harmonic map $\varphi$ from a Riemann surface to a classical compact simply connected inner symmetric space, there is a $J_2$-holomorphic twistor lift of $\varphi$ (or its negative) if and only if it is nilconformal. In the case of harmonic maps of finite uniton number, we give algebraic formulae i…

The paper explores harmonic maps and their properties in symmetric spaces.

We use filtrations of the Grassmannian model to produce explicit algebraic formulae for all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface, and so all harmonic maps from the 2-sphere, to the unitary group for a general class of factorizations by unitons. We show how these specialize to give explicit formu…

In this paper we describe how the operation of adding a uniton arises via the DPW method of obtaining harmonic maps into compact Riemannian symmetric spaces out of certain holomorphic one forms. We exploit this point of view to investigate which unitons preserve finite type property of harmonic maps. In particular, we …

We show that a harmonic map from a Riemann surface into the exceptional symmetric space $G_2/{\mathrm SO}(4)$ has a $J_2$-holomorphic twistor lift into one of the three flag manifolds of $G_2$ if and only if it is `nilconformal', i.e., has nilpotent derivative. Then we find relationships with almost complex maps from a…

We investigate in detail the connection between harmonic maps from Riemann surfaces into the unitary group $\U(n)$ and their Grassmannian models: these are families of shift-invariant subspaces of $L^2(S^1,\C^n)$. With the help of operator-theoretic methods we derive a criterion for finiteness of the uniton number whic…

We classify all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface into SU(n) in terms of certain pieces of the Bruhat decomposition of the subgroup of algebraic loops in SU(n). We give a description of the "Frenet frame data" for such harmonic maps in a given class.

In this paper, we develop a loop group description of harmonic maps $\mathcal{F}: M \rightarrow G/K$ ``of finite uniton type", from a Riemann surface $M$ into inner symmetric spaces of compact or non-compact type. This develops work of Uhlenbeck, Segal, and Burstall-Guest to non-compact inner symmetric spaces. To be mo…

We find algebraic parametrizations of extended solutions of harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a surface to the orthogonal group O(n) in terms of free holomorphic data which lead to formulae for all such harmonic maps. Our work reveals an interesting correspondence between certain harmonic maps and the free Wei…

The Ward equation, also called the modified 2+1 chiral model, is obtained by a dimension reduction and a gauge fixing from the self-dual Yang-Mills field equation on $R^{2,2}$. It has a Lax pair and is an integrable system. Ward constructed solitons whose extended solutions have distinct simple poles. He also used a li…

We give a completely explicit formula for all harmonic maps of finite uniton number from a Riemann surface to the unitary group U(n) in any dimension, and so all harmonic maps from the 2-sphere, in terms of freely chosen meromorphic functions on the surface and their derivatives, using only combinations of projections …

Survey of Willmore surfaces in spheres using DPW method.

Applying the DPW version of the theory developed by Burstall and Guest for harmonic maps of finite uniton type, we derive a coarse classification of Willmore two-spheres in $S^{n+2}$ in terms of the normalized potential of their (harmonic) conformal Gauss maps. Moreover, for the case of $S^6$, some geometric properties…

We consider a class of time dependent finite energy multi-soliton solutions of the U(N) integrable chiral model in $(2+1)$ dimensions. The corresponding extended solutions of the associated linear problem have a pole with arbitrary multiplicity in the complex plane of the spectral parameter. Restrictions of these exten…

This paper aims to provide a description of totally isotropic Willmore two-spheres and their adjoint transforms. We first recall the isotropic harmonic maps which are introduced by Hélein, Xia-Shen and Ma for the study of Willmore surfaces. Then we derive a description of the normalized potential (some Lie algebra valu…

We define and compare several natural ways to compute the bridge number of a knot diagram. We study bridge numbers of crossing number minimizing diagrams, as well as the behavior of diagrammatic bridge numbers under the connected sum operation. For each notion of diagrammatic bridge number considered, we find crossing …

Spatial embeddings of planar graphs can have higher unknotting numbers than crossing numbers.

The unknotting number of a knot is the minimum number of crossings one must change to turn that knot into the unknot. The algebraic unknotting number is the minimum number of crossing changes needed to transform a knot into an Alexander polynomial-one knot. We work with a generalization of unknotting number due to Math…

The paper bounds the handle number of sutured manifolds using Morse-Novikov numbers and tunnel numbers.

New measure shows how links can be untangled as twists increase.

New number bounds knot complexity, including unknotting and crosscap numbers.

We give an upper bound for the dealternating number of a closed 3-braid. As applications, we determine the dealternating numbers, the alternation numbers and the Turaev genera of some closed positive 3-braids. We also show that there exist infinitely many positive knots with any dealternating number (or any alternation…

Paper shows that for torus knots, the pinch number equals the unoriented band unknotting number.

Delta-unlinking number measures how to unlink algebraically split links.

Study on knot properties, showing relation between unknotting and crossing numbers.

Odd crossing numbers and even rotation numbers for cycles in plane immersions.

Study computability of real numbers from group properties.

We define the basket number, the flat plumbing number and the flat plumbing basket number of a link. Then we provide some upperbounds for these plumbing numbers by using Seifert's algorithm. We study the relation between these plumbing numbers and the genera of links.

The aim of the present paper is to prove that the minimal number of virtual crossings for some families of virtual knots grows quadratically with respect to the minimal number of classical crossings. All previously known estimates for virtual crossing number were principally no more than linear in the number of classic…

This paper calculates stick numbers for rail arcs and knot classes.

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…

In this paper we investigate the unlinking numbers of 10-crossing links. We make use of various link invariants and explore their behaviour when crossings are changed. The methods we describe have been used previously to compute unlinking numbers of links with crossing number at most 9. Ultimately, we find the unlinkin…

This paper is about the clock number of a knot. First we define the clock number by using states of a knot defined by Kauffman. Next we show that if K is a prime knot, its clock number is greater than or equal to its crossing number. Finally we prove that its clock number is equal to its crossing number if and only if …

We study three knot invariants related to smoothly immersed disks in the four-ball. These are the four-ball crossing number, which is the minimal number of normal double points of such a disk bounded by a given knot; the slicing number, which is the minimal number of crossing changes to a slice knot; and the concordanc…

For a knot $K$ the cube number is a knot invariant defined to be the smallest $n$ for which there is a cube diagram of size $n$ for $K$. There is also a Legendrian version of this invariant called the \emph{Legendrian cube number}. We will show that the Legendrian cube number distinguishes the Legendrian left hand toru…

Jablan and Radović originally defined two invariants called the Meander number and OGC number of knots for certain classes of knots. We generalize these definitions to all knots and name the straight number and contained straight number of a knot, respectively, and prove they are well defined. We answer two questions a…

New insights into knot fusion numbers via cabling.

Links with minimum tunnel number have one less component than their number of parts.