Local structure of ideal shapes of knots

Relatively extremal knots are the relative minima of the ropelength functional in the C¹ topology. They are the relative maxima of the thickness (normal injectivity radius) functional on the set of curves of fixed length, and they include the ideal knots. We prove that a C1,1 relatively extremal knot in Rn either has constant maximal (generalized) curvature, or its thickness is equal to half of the double critical self distance. This local result also applies to the links. Our main approach is to show that the shortest curves with bounded curvature and C¹ boundary conditions in Rn contain CLC (circle-line-circle) curves, if they do not have constant maximal curvature.     

Cobordism of disk knots

We study cobordisms and cobordisms rel boundary of PL locally-flat disk knots D ⁿ⁻² ↪ D ⁿ . Any two disk knots are cobordant if the cobordisms are not required to fix the boundary sphere knots, and any two even-dimensional disk knots with isotopic boundary knots are cobordant rel boundary. However, the cobordism rel boundary theory of odd-dimensional disk knots is more subtle. Generalizing results of J. Levine on the cobordism of sphere knots, we define disk knot Seifert matrices and show that two higher-dimensional disk knots with isotopic boundaries are cobordant rel boundary if and only if their disk knot Seifert matrices are algebraically cobordant. We also ask which algebraic cobordism classes can be realized given a fixed boundary knot and provide a complete classification when the boundary knot has no 2-torsion in its middle-dimensional Alexander module. In the course of this classification, we establish a close connection between the Blanchfield pairing of a disk knot and the Farber-Levine torsion pairing of its boundary knot (in fact, for disk knots satisfying certain connectivity assumptions, the disk knot Blanchfield pairing will determine the boundary Farber-Levine pairing). In addition, we study the dependence of disk knot Seifert matrices on choices of Seifert surface, demonstrating that all such Seifert matrices are rationally S-equivalent, but not necessarily integrally S-equivalent.     

Geometry of Euclidean tetrahedra and knot invariants

We construct knot invariants on the basis of ascribing Euclidean geometric values to a triangulation of the sphere S ³, where the knot lies. Edges of the triangulation along which the knot goes are distinguished by a nonzero deficit angle, in the terminology of the Regge calculus. __________ Translated from Fundamentalnaya i Prikladnaya Matematika, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 105–117, 2005.     

Non-recursive functions,knots “with thick ropes,” and self-clenching “thick” hyperspheres

We introduce an approach to certain geometric variational problems based on the use of the algorithmic unrecognizability of the n-dimensional sphere for n ≥ 5. Sometimes this approach allows one to prove the existence of infinitely many solutions of a considered variational problem. This recursion-theoretic approach is applied in this paper to a class of functionals on the space of C^1.1-smooth hypersurfaces diffeomorphic to Sⁿ in Rⁿ⁺¹, where n is any fixed number ≥ 5. The simplest of these functionals k_v is defined by the formula k_v(Σⁿ) = (vol(Σⁿ))^1/n/r(Σⁿ), where r(Σⁿ) denotes the radius of injectivity of the normal exponential map for Σⁿ ? Rⁿ+l. We prove the existence of an infinite set of distinct locally minimal values of k_v on the space of C^1.1-smooth topological hyperspheres in Rⁿ⁺¹ for any n ≥ 5. The functional k_v naturally arises when one attempts to generalize knot theory in order to deal with embeddings and isotopies of “thick” circles and, more generally, “thick” spheres into Euclidean spaces. We introduce the notion of knot “with thick rope” types. The theory of knot “with thick rope” types turns out to be quite different from the classical knot theory because of the following result: There exists an infinite set of non-trivial knot “with thick rope” types in codimension one for every dimension greater than or equal to five.     

On $ \pi $-hyperbolic knots and branched coverings

We prove that, for any given , a -hyperbolic knot is determined by its 2-fold and n-fold cyclic branched coverings. We also prove that a -hyperbolic knot which is not determined by its m-fold and n-fold cyclic branched coverings, , must have genus . Received: December 14, 1998.     

Knot Floer homology detects fibred knots

Ozsváth and Szabó conjectured that knot Floer homology detects fibred knots in S ³. We will prove this conjecture for null-homologous knots in arbitrary closed 3-manifolds. Namely, if K is a knot in a closed 3-manifold Y, Y-K is irreducible, and is monic, then K is fibred. The proof relies on previous works due to Gabai, Ozsváth–Szabó, Ghiggini and the author. A corollary is that if a knot in S ³ admits a lens space surgery, then the knot is fibred. Dedicated to Professor Boju Jiang on the occasion of his 70th birthday Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 57R58, 57M27, 57R30     

A Space of Cyclohedra

Abstract. The real points of the Deligne—Knudsen—Mumford moduli space \overline \cal M ⁿ ₀ of marked points on the sphere have a natural tiling by associahedra. We extend this idea to construct an aspherical space tiled by cyclohedra . We explore the structure of this space, coming from blow-ups of hyperplane arrangements, as well as discuss possibilities of its role in knot theory and mathematical physics.     

A Space of Cyclohedra

   Abstract. The real points of the Deligne—Knudsen—Mumford moduli space \overline \cal M ⁿ ₀ of marked points on the sphere have a natural tiling by associahedra. We extend this idea to construct an aspherical space tiled by cyclohedra . We explore the structure of this space, coming from blow-ups of hyperplane arrangements, as well as discuss possibilities of its role in knot theory and mathematical physics.     

Computing the Writhing Number of a Polygonal Knot

The writhing number measures the global geometry of a closed space curve or knot. We show that this measure is related to the average winding number of its Gauss map. Using this relationship, we give an algorithm for computing the writhing number for a polygonal knot with n edges in time roughly proportional to n^1.6. We also implement a different, simple algorithm and provide experimental evidence for its practical efficiency.     

Obtaining graph knots by twisting unknots

Let K be a knot in the 3-sphere S³ and D a disk in S³ meeting K transversely more than once in the interior. For nontriviality we assume that |D∩K|⩾2 over all isotopies of K in S³−∂D. Let K_D,n (⊂S³) be a knot obtained from K by n twisting along the disk D. We prove that if K is a trivial knot and K_D,n is a graph knot, then |n|⩽1 or K and D form a special pair which we call an “exceptional pair”. As a corollary, if (K,D) is not an exceptional pair, then by twisting unknot K more than once (in the positive or the negative direction) along the disk D, we always obtain a knot with positive Gromov volume. We will also show that there are infinitely many graph knots each of which is obtained from a trivial knot by twisting, but its companion knot cannot be obtained in such a manner.     

Counterexamples to Kauffman's conjectures on slice knots

In the late 1960s Jerome Levine classified the odd high-dimensional knot concordance groups in terms of a linking matrix associated to an arbitrary bounding manifold for the knot. His proof fails for classical knots in S³$S^3$. Yet this philosophy has remained the only known strategy for understanding the classical knot concordance group. We show that this strategy is fundamentally flawed. Specifically, in 1982, in support of Levine's philosophy, Louis Kauffman conjectured that if a knot in S³$S^3$ 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 amassed in support of this conjecture. In particular, many invariants that obstruct a knot from being a slice knot have been explicitly expressed in terms of invariants of such curves on its Seifert surface. We give counterexamples to Kauffman's conjecture, that is, we exhibit (smoothly) slice knots that admit (unique minimal genus) Seifert surfaces on which every homologically essential simple closed curve of self-linking zero has non-zero Arf invariant and non-zero signatures.     

Approximation properties of λ‐Bernstein‐Kantorovich operators with shifted knots

In the present article, Kantorovich variant of λ‐Bernstein operators with shifted knots are introduced. The advantage of using shifted knot is that one can do approximation on [0,1] as well as on its subinterval. In addition, it adds flexibility to operators for approximation. Some basic results for approximation as well as rate of convergence of the introduced operators are established. The r^th order generalization of the operator is also discussed. Further for comparisons, some graphics and error estimation tables are presented using MATLAB.     

An Ozsváth–Szabó Floer homology invariant of knots in a contact manifold

Using the knot Floer homology filtration, we define invariants associated to a knot in a three-manifold possessing non-vanishing Floer co(homology) classes. In the case of the Ozsváth–Szabó contact invariant we obtain an invariant of knots in a contact three-manifold. This invariant provides an upper bound for the Thurston–Bennequin plus rotation number of any Legendrian realization of the knot. We use it to demonstrate the first systematic construction of prime knots in contact manifolds other than S³ with negative maximal Thurston–Bennequin invariant. Perhaps more interesting, our invariant provides a criterion for an open book to induce a tight contact structure. A corollary is that if a manifold possesses contact structures with distinct non-vanishing Ozsváth–Szabó invariants, then any fibered knot can realize the classical Eliashberg–Bennequin bound in at most one of these contact structures.     

Metabelian representations, twisted Alexander polynomials, knot slicing, and mutation

Given a knot complement X and its p-fold cyclic cover X _p → X, we identify twisted polynomials associated to GL₁(F[t^±1]){GL_1\left({\bf F}[t^{\pm 1}]\right)} representations of π ₁(X _p ) with twisted polynomials associated to related GL_p(F[t^±1]){GL_p\left({\bf F}[t^{\pm 1}]\right)} representations of π ₁(X) which factor through metabelian representations. This provides a simpler and faster algorithm to compute these polynomials, allowing us to prove that 16 (of 18 previously unknown) algebraically slice knots of 12 or fewer crossings are not slice. We also use this improved algorithm to prove that the 24 mutants of the pretzel knot P(3, 7, 9, 11, 15), corresponding to permutations of (7, 9, 11, 15), represent distinct concordance classes.     

Epstein–Penner Decompositions and Thrice Punctured Spheres in Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds

Let M be a cusped hyperbolic 3-manifold containing an incompressible thrice punctured sphere S. Suppose that M is not the Whitehead link complement. We prove that a certain arc on S is isotopic to an edge of a Euclidean decomposition of M. By using the above result, we relate alternating knot diagrams and the canonical decompositions. Let K be an alternating hyperbolic knot. On a reduced alternating knot diagram of K, if we replace one of the crossings with a large number of half twists, the polar axis of the crossing is isotopic to an edge of the canonical decomposition for the resulting knot.     

Gabor dual spline windows

A method is presented for constructing dual Gabor window functions that are polynomial splines. The spline windows are supported in [−1,1], with a knot at x=0, and can be taken C^m smooth and symmetric. The translation and modulation parameters satisfy a=1 and 0<b1/2. The full range 0<ab<1 is handled by introducing an additional knot. Many explicit examples are found.     

An Ito formula for domain-valued processes driven by stochastic flows

 We consider a natural class of stochastic processes taking values in the space of smoothly bounded domains in ℝ ⁿ with compact closure. These processes are generated by stochastic flows on ℝ ⁿ which are obtained as the solutions of stochastic differential equations on ℝ ⁿ . We establish an Ito formula for smooth domain functionals, applied to processes in this class. Received: 2 March 2001 / Revised version: 10 January 2002 / Published online: 22 August 2002     

Noncyclic Covers of Knot Complements

Hempel has shown that the fundamental groups of knot complements are residually finite. This implies that every nontrivial knot must have a finite-sheeted, noncyclic cover. We give an explicit bound, Φ (c), such that if K is a nontrivial knot in the three-sphere with a diagram with c crossings then the complement of K has a finite-sheeted, noncyclic cover with at most Φ (c) sheets.The author is supported by an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cornell University.     

Non-uniform exponential tension splines

We describe explicitly each stage of a numerically stable algorithm for calculating with exponential tension B-splines with non-uniform choice of tension parameters. These splines are piecewisely in the kernel of D ²(D ²–p ²), where D stands for ordinary derivative, defined on arbitrary meshes, with a different choice of the tension parameter p on each interval. The algorithm provides values of the associated B-splines and their generalized and ordinary derivatives by performing positive linear combinations of positive quantities, described as lower-order exponential tension splines. We show that nothing else but the knot insertion algorithm and good approximation of a few elementary functions is needed to achieve machine accuracy. The underlying theory is that of splines based on Chebyshev canonical systems which are not smooth enough to be ECC-systems. First, by de Boor algorithm we construct exponential tension spline of class C ¹, and then we use quasi-Oslo type algorithms to evaluate classical non-uniform C ² tension exponential splines.      

Reidemeister torsion for linear representations and Seifert surgery on knots

We study an invariant of a 3-manifold which consists of Reidemeister torsion for linear representations which pass through a finite group. We show a Dehn surgery formula on this invariant and compute that of a Seifert manifold over S². As a consequence we obtain a necessary condition for a result of Dehn surgery along a knot to be Seifert fibered, which can be applied even in a case where abelian Reidemeister torsion gives no information.