Related papers: A bound on the equivariant unknotting number

It has been known that any Alexander polynomial of a knot can be realized by a quasipositive knot. As a consequence, the Alexander polynomial cannot detect quasipositivity. In this paper we prove a similar result about Vassiliev invariants:…

For strongly invertible knots, we define an involutive version of Khovanov homology, and from it derive a pair of integer-valued invariants $(\underline{s}, \bar{s})$, which is an equivariant version of Rasmussen's $s$-invariant. Using…

This paper begins with a survey of some applications of Khovanov homology to low-dimensional topology, with an eye toward extending these results to $\mathfrak{sl}(n)$ homologies. We extend Levine and Zemke's ribbon concordance obstruction…

In 2013, Adams introduced the $n$-crossing number of a knot $K$, denoted by $c_n(K)$. Inequalities between the $2$-, $3$-, $4$-, and $5$-crossing numbers have been previously established. We prove $c_9(K)\leq c_3(K)-2$ for all knots $K$…

We determine a simple condition on a particular state graph of an alternating knot or link diagram that characterizes when the unoriented genus and crosscap number coincide, extending work of Adams and Kindred. Building on this same work…

Defined by Joyce and Matveev, the fundamental quandle is a complete invariant of oriented classical knots. We consider invariants of knots defined from quotients of the fundamental quandle. In particular, we introduce the fundamental Latin…

Let $u(K)$ and $g(K)$ denote the unknotting number and the genus of a knot $K$, respectively. For a 3-braid knot $K$, we show that $u(K)\le g(K)$ holds, and that if $u(K)=g(K)$ then $K$ is either a 2-braid knot, a connected sum of two…

We consider a relation between two kinds of unknotting numbers defined by using a band surgery on unoriented knots; the band-unknotting number and H(2)-unknotting number, which we may characterize in terms of the first Betti number of…

We prove a lower bound for the Milnor number of function germ invariant with respect to a finite abelian group action. It is shown that this bound is tight for functions of arbitrarily many variables. We also prove the function germs that…

Quantum knot invariants (like colored HOMFLY-PT or Kauffman polynomials) are a distinguished class of non-perturbative topological invariants. Any known way to construct them (via Chern-Simons theory or quantum R-matrix) starts with a…

S. Nelson, M. Orrison, V. Rivera {\cite{S}} modified Kauffman's construction of bracket. Their invariant $\Phi^{\beta}_X$ takes value in a finite ring $Z_2[t]/(1+t+t^3)$. In this paper, the author generalizes this invariant. The new…

The maximum length of the shortest path from a leaf to the root of a skein tree for knots and links gives a measure of the complexity of computing link polynomials by the skein relation (the Jones polynomial, the Alexander-Conway…

The $\Delta$-unknotting number for a knot is defined as the minimum number of $\Delta$-moves needed to deform the knot into the trivial knot. It is known that, for positive pretzel knots, the $\Delta$-unknotting number coincides with the…

An elementary introduction to knot theory and its link to quantum field theory is presented with an intention to provide details of some basic calculations in the subject, which are not easily found in texts. Study of Chern-Simons theory…

We introduce a new numerical knot invariant, termed the \textit{segment number}, which is derived from partitioned knot diagrams subject to specific over/under-crossing constraints. We prove that a knot is non-trivial if and only if its…

We construct two complete invariants of oriented classical knots in space. The value of each invariant on any knot is a set, infinite for the first invariant and finite for the second. The finite set is computed algorithmically from any…

The colored HOMLFY polynomial is an important knot invariant depending on two variables $a$ and $q$. We give bounds on the degree in both $a$ and $q$ generalizing Morton's bounds \cite{Mo86} for the ordinary HOMFLY polynomial. Our bounds…

We provide a geometric construction of the boundary states for handlebodies which we in turn use to give a geometric formula for the Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev quantum invariants. We then analyze the asymptotics of this invariant in the…

We study three knot invariants related to smoothly immersed disks in the four-ball. These are the four-ball crossing number, which is the minimal number of normal double points of such a disk bounded by a given knot; the slicing number,…

Using unknotting number, we introduce a link diagram invariant of Hass and Nowik type, which changes at most by 2 under a Reidemeister move. As an application, we show that a certain infinite sequence of diagrams of the trivial…