The self-linking number of a closed curve in R^n
Differential Geometry
2007-05-23 v1
Abstract
We introduce the self-linking number of a smooth closed curve in R^n with respect to a 3-dimensional vector bundle over the curve, provided that some regularity conditions are satisfied. When n=3, this construction gives the classical self-linking number of a closed embedded curve with non-vanishing curvature. We also look at some interesting particular cases, which correspond to the osculating or the orthogonal vector bundle of the curve.
Cite
@article{arxiv.math/9906015,
title = {The self-linking number of a closed curve in R^n},
author = {A. Montesinos-Amilibia and J. J. Nuno-Ballesteros},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/9906015},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
13 pages; 2 figures; AMS-LaTeX