English

A contact geometric proof of the Whitney-Graustein theorem

Geometric Topology 2009-06-29 v1 Symplectic Geometry

Abstract

The Whitney-Graustein theorem states that regular closed curves in the 2-plane are classified, up to regular homotopy, by their rotation number. Here we give a simple proof based on contact geometry.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0801.0046,
  title  = {A contact geometric proof of the Whitney-Graustein theorem},
  author = {Hansjörg Geiges},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0801.0046},
  year   = {2009}
}

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7 pages