Related papers: Knot Group Epimorphisms, II

Let K be the kernel of an epimorphism G -> Z, where G is a finitely presented group. If K has infinitely many subgroups of index 2, 3, or 4, then it has uncountably many. Moreover, if K is the commutator subgroup of a classical knot group…

A polynomial is presented that models a topological knot in a unique manner. It distinguishes all types of knots including the orientation and has a group theory interpretation. The topologies may be labeled via a number, which upon a base…

Each ruling of a Legendrian link can be naturally treated as a surface. For knots, the ruling is 2-graded if and only if the surface is orientable. For 2-graded rulings of homogeneous (in particular, alternating) knots, we prove that the…

Let K be a knot of genus g. If K is fibered, then it is well known that the knot group pi(K) splits only over a free group of rank 2g. We show that if K is not fibered, then pi(K) splits over non-free groups of arbitrarily large rank.…

We describe the genus two knots which admit a genus one, one bridge position. These are divided into several families, one consists of vertical bandings of two genus one $(1,1)$-knots, other consists of vertical bandings of two cross cap…

For a knot diagram $K$, the classical knot group $\pi_1(K)$ is a free group modulo relations determined by Wirtinger-type relations on the classical crossings. The classical knot group is invariant under the Reidemeister moves. In this…

Let $h(K)$, $g_H(K)$, $g_1(K)$, $t(K)$ be the $h$-genus, Heegaard genus, bridge-1 genus, tunnel number of a knot $K$ in the $3$-sphere $S^3$, respectively. It is known that $g_H(K)-1=t(K)\leq g_1(K)\leq h(K)\leq g_H(K)$. A natural question…

Let $k$ and $k'$ be two knots in 3-sphere. Say $k$ 1--dominates $k'$, if there is a proper degree 1 map $f\co E(k)\to E(k')$, between knot exterior of $k_i$. Theorem: Suppose that any companion of $k$ is prime. If $k$ 1--dominates $k'$ with…

A knot semigroup is defined by A. Vernitski. A. Vernitski conjectured that the knot semigroup of the 2-bridge knot is isomorphic to an alternating sum semigroup. To support this conjecture, and as a first main result, we prove that the knot…

We show that every two-bridge knot $K$ of crossing number $N$ admits a polynomial parametrization $x=T_3(t), y = T_b(t), z =C(t)$ where $T_k(t)$ are the Chebyshev polynomials and $b+\deg C = 3N$. If $C (t)= T_c(t)$ is a Chebyshev…

For a knot $K,$ a slope $r$ is said to be characterizing if for no other knot $J$ does $r$-framed surgery along $J$ yield the same manifold as $r$-framed surgery on $K.$ Applying a condition of Baker and Motegi, we show that the knots…

Any 2-bridge knot in the 3-sphere has a bridge sphere from which any other bridge surface can be obtained by stabilization, meridional stabilization, perturbation and proper isotopy.

We explore algebraic characterizations of 2-knots whose associated knot manifolds fibre over lower-dimensional orbifolds, and consider also some issues related to the groups of higher-dimensional fibred knots.

We show that any non-minimal bridge decomposition of a torus knot is stabilized and that $n$-bridge decompositions of a torus knot are unique for any integer $n$. This implies that a knot in a bridge position is a torus knot if and only if…

Let $M_K$ be the 2-fold branched cover of a knot $K in $S^3$. If $H_1(M_K) = {\bf Z}_3 \oplus {\bf Z}_{3^{2i}} \oplus G$ where 3 does not divide the order of $G$ then $K$ is not of order 4 in the concordance group. This obstruction detects…

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…

Roberts proved that a family of alternating, arborescent, prime knots each have at least $2^{2n-1}$ distinct minimal genus Seifert surfaces, where $n$ is the genus of the knot in question. We give a subfamily of these knots that have…

We consider arrow diagrams of links in $S^3$ and define $k$-moves on such diagrams, for any $k\in\mathbb N$. We study the equivalence classes of links in $S^3$ up to $k$-moves. For $k=2$, we show that any two knots are equivalent, whereas…

We give infinitely many examples of 2-bridge knots for which the topological and smooth slice genera differ. The smallest of these is the 12-crossing knot $12a255$. These also provide the first known examples of alternating knots for which…

For a knot K in S^3, let T(K) be the characteristic toric sub-orbifold of the orbifold (S^3,K) as defined by Bonahon and Siebenmann. If K has unknotting number one, we show that an unknotting arc for K can always be found which is disjoint…