Related papers: Rational linking and contact geometry
Suppose that L is a null--homologous Legendrian knot in a contact 3--manifold. We determine the connection between the sutured invariant of the complement of L and the Legendrian invariant defined by Lisca, Ozsvath, Stipsicz and Szabo. In…
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how topology and geometry provide, in many instances, the connective tissue that enables logical comprehension. We illustrate this theme with many examples including Venn diagrams, knot diagrams,…
In \cite{GZ}, Gilmer and Zhong established the existence of an invariant for links in $S^1\times S^2$ which is a rational function in variables $a$ and $s$ and satisfies the HOMFLY-PT skein relations. We give formulas for evaluating this…
A knot in $S^3$ is rationally slice if it bounds a disk in a rational homology ball. We give an infinite family of rationally slice knots that are linearly independent in the knot concordance group. In particular, our examples are all…
We introduce natural language processing into the study of knot theory, as made natural by the braid word representation of knots. We study the UNKNOT problem of determining whether or not a given knot is the unknot. After describing an…
We show that the order of torsion homology classes in Bar-Natan deformation of Khovanov homology is a lower bound for the unknotting number. We give examples of knots that this is a better lower bound than |s(K)/2|, where s(K) is the…
This paper explores the relationship between the existence of an exact embedded Lagrangian filling for a Legendrian knot in the standard contact $\rr^3$ and the hierarchy of positive, strongly quasi-positive, and quasi-positive knots. On…
We define ruling invariants for even-valence Legendrian graphs in standard contact three-space. We prove that rulings exist if and only if the DGA of the graph, introduced by the first two authors, has an augmentation. We set up the usual…
We compute the maximal Thurston-Bennequin number for a Legendrian two-bridge knot or oriented two-bridge link in standard contact R^3, by showing that the upper bound given by the Kauffman polynomial is sharp. As an application, we present…
We define half grid diagrams and prove every link is half grid presentable by constructing a canonical half grid pair (which gives rise to a grid diagram of some special type) associated with an element in the oriented Thompson group. We…
We study contact manifolds that arise as cyclic branched covers of transverse knots in the standard contact 3-sphere. We discuss properties of these contact manifolds and describe them in terms of open books and contact surgeries. In many…
Loop percolation, also known as the dense O(1) loop model, is a variant of critical bond percolation in the square lattice Z^2 whose graph structure consists of a disjoint union of cycles. We study its connectivity pattern, which is a…
We present examples of Legendrian knots in $\mathbb{R}^3$ that have linearized Legendrian contact homology over $\mathbb{Z}$ containing torsion. As a consequence, we show that there exist augmentations of Legendrian knots over $\mathbb{Z}$…
We define a new algebraic structure called Legendrian racks or racks with Legendrian structure, motivated by the front-projection Reidemeister moves for Legendrian knots. We provide examples of Legendrian racks and use these algebraic…
Simple closed curves in the plane can be mapped to nontrivial knots under the action of origami foldings that allow the paper to self-intersect. We show all tame knot types may be produced in this manner, motivating the development of a new…
A knot-theoretic explanation is given for the rationality of the quenched QED beta function. At the link level, the Ward identity entails cancellation of subdivergences generated by one term of the skein relation, which in turn implies…
We apply knot Floer homology to exhibit an infinite family of transversely nonsimple prime knots starting with $10_{132}$. We also discuss the combinatorial relationship between grid diagrams, braids, and Legendrian and transverse knots in…
Mosaic tiles were first introduced by Lomonaco and Kauffman in 2008 to describe quantum knots, and have since been studied for their own right. Using a modified set of tiles, front projections of Legendrian knots can be built from mosaics…
The study of knots and links from a probabilistic viewpoint provides insight into the behavior of "typical" knots, and opens avenues for new constructions of knots and other topological objects with interesting properties. The knotting of…
We consider knot theories possessing a {\em parity}: each crossing is decreed {\em odd} or {\em even} according to some universal rule. If this rule satisfies some simple axioms concerning the behaviour under Reidemeister moves, this leads…