Related papers: On the Stein framing number of a knot

For a 4-manifold represented by a framed knot in $S^3$, it has been well known that the 4-manifold admits a Stein structure if the framing is less than the maximal Thurston-Bennequin number of the knot. In this paper, we prove either the…

For a knot $K$ in the 3-sphere and a simply connected closed 4-manifold $X$, we define the $X$-double slice genus of $K$, extending the notion from the case when $X$ is the 4-sphere. We show that for each integer $n$, there exists an…

In view of the self-linking invariant, the number $|K|$ of framed knots in $S^3$ with given underlying knot $K$ is infinite. In fact, the second author previously defined affine self-linking invariants and used them to show that $|K|$ is…

A multi-crossing (or n-crossing) is a singular point in a projection at which n strands cross so that each strand bisects the crossing. We generalize the classic result of Kauffman, Murasugi, and Thistlethwaite, which gives the upper bound…

We introduce the four-page index of a knot or link as a presentation invariant arising from embeddings in a four-page open book decomposition. Using spanning trees of the checkerboard graph of a reduced non-split diagram, we construct a…

We show that, for each integer n, there exist infinitely many pairs of n-framed knots representing homeomorphic but non-diffeomorphic (Stein) 4-manifolds, which are the simplest possible exotic 4-manifolds regarding handlebody structures.…

For any integer $n\geq 2$, we construct an infinite family of Stein fillable contact $(4n-1)$-manifolds each of which admits infinitely many pairwise homotopy inequivalent Stein fillings.

Lomonaco and Kauffman introduced a knot mosaic system to give a definition of a quantum knot system which can be viewed as a blueprint for the construction of an actual physical quantum system. A knot $n$-mosaic is an $n \times n$ matrix of…

Given a closed four-manifold $X$ with an indefinite intersection form, we consider smoothly embedded surfaces in $X \setminus $int$(B^4)$, with boundary a knot $K \subset S^3$. We give several methods to bound the genus of such surfaces in…

In a 3-manifold M, let K be a knot and R be an annulus which meets K transversely. We define the notion of the pair (R,K) being caught by a surface Q in the exterior of the link given by K and the boundary curves of R. For a caught pair…

If a knot K in a closed, orientable 3-manifold M has a bridge surface T with distance at least 3 in the curve complex of T - K, then the genus of any essential surface in its exterior with non-empty, non-meridional boundary gives rise to an…

The slicing number of a knot, $u_s(K)$, is the minimum number of crossing changes required to convert $K$ to a slice knot. This invariant is bounded above by the unknotting number and below by the slice genus $g_s(K)$. We show that for many…

For a nontrivial knot $K$, Negami found an upper bound on the stick number $s(K)$ in terms of its crossing number $c(K)$ which is $s(K) \leq 2 c(K)$. Later, Huh and Oh utilized the arc index $\alpha(K)$ to present a more precise upper bound…

The slice-Bennequin inequality states an upper bound for the self-linking number of a knot in terms of its four-ball genus. The $s$-Bennequin and $\tau$-Bennequin inequalities provide upper bounds on the self-linking number of a knot in…

We establish a version of Seiberg--Witten Floer $K$-theory for knots, as well as a version of Seiberg-Witten Floer $K$-theory for 3-manifolds with involution. The main theorems are 10/8-type inequalities for knots and for involutions. The…

We show that for any nontrivial knot $K$ and any natural number $n$ there is a diagram $D$ of $K$ such that the unknotting number of $D$ is greater than or equal to $n$. It is well known that twice the unknotting number of $K$ is less than…

It is known that every exotic smooth structure on a simply connected closed 4-manifold is determined by a codimention zero compact contractible Stein submanifold and an involution on its boundary. Such a pair is called a cork. In this…

We prove that for any integer $n$ there exist infinitely many different knots in $S^3$ such that $n$-surgery on those knots yields the same 3-manifold. In particular, when $|n|=1$ homology spheres arise from these surgeries. This answers…

Let $n$, $k$, and $t$ be integers satisfying $n>k>t\ge2$. A Steiner system with parameters $t$, $k$, and $n$ is a $k$-uniform hypergraph on $n$ vertices in which every set of $t$ distinct vertices is contained in exactly one edge. An…

Lomonaco and Kauffman developed knot mosaics to give a definition of a quantum knot system. This definition is intended to represent an actual physical quantum system. A knot $n$-mosaic is an $n \times n$ matrix of 11 kinds of specific…