Related papers: Computing the writhe of a knot
We solve the problem of counting elliptic curves with fixed j-invariant in projective space with tangency conditions. This is equivalent to couting rational nodal curves with condition on the node of the image. The solution is given in the…
In this note we give a new lower bound on the virtual crossing number via the writhe polynomial, which refines a result of B. Mellor. The proof is based on a new interpretation of the writhe polynomial. The characterization of the writhe…
Using skein valued holomorphic curve counting techniques, we give a flow loop formula for the skein valued partition function of the Lagrangian knot complement of a fibered knot (of the $A$-model open topological strings with Lagrangian…
Knots and links which are closed 3-braids are a very special class. Like 2-bridge knots and links, they are simple enough to admit a complete classification. At the same time they are rich enough to serve as a source of examples on which,…
For an elliptic curve $E/\Q$, we determine the maximum number of twists $E^d/\Q$ it can have such that $E^d(\Q)_{tors}\supsetneq E(\Q)[2]$. We use these results to determine the number of distinct quadratic fields $K$ such that…
We define a plane curve to be threadable if it can rigidly pass through a point-hole in a line L without otherwise touching L. Threadable curves are in a sense generalizations of monotone curves. We have two main results. The first is a…
In 2000, Thomas Fink and Young Mao studied neck ties and, with certain assumptions, found 85 different ways to tie a neck tie. They gave a formal language which describes how a tie is made, giving a sequence of moves for each neck tie. The…
The warping sum $e(K)$ of a knot $K$ is the minimal value of the sum of the warping degrees of a minimal diagram of $K$ with both orientations. In this paper, knots $K$ with $e(K) \le 3$ are characterized, and some knots $K$ with $e(K)=4$…
The computation of the topology of a real algebraic plane curve is greatly simplified if there are no more than one critical point in each vertical line: the general position condition. When this condition is not satisfied, then a finite…
This is a report on our ongoing research on a combinatorial approach to knot recognition, using coloring of knots by certain algebraic objects called quandles. The aim of the paper is to summarize the mathematical theory of knot coloring in…
State-sum invariants for knotted curves and surfaces using quandle cohomology were introduced by Laurel Langford and the authors in math.GT/9903135 In this paper we present methods to compute the invariants and sample computations. Computer…
We use ODEs and symmetry arguments to construct closed constant curvature space curves, first on cylinders, next on tori, at last with the Frenet-Serret equations.
We present new computations of tight shapes obtained using the constrained gradient descent code RIDGERUNNER for 544 composite knots with 12 and fewer crossings, expanding our dataset to 943 knots and links. We use the new data set to…
A knot in a thickened surface $K$ is a smooth embedding $K:S^1 \rightarrow \Sigma \times [0,1]$, where $\Sigma$ is a closed, connected, orientable surface. There is a bijective correspondence between knots in $S^2 \times [0,1]$ and knots in…
We find a geometrical method of analysing the singularities of a plane nodal curve. The main results will be used in a forthcoming paper on geometric Plucker formulas for such curves. Plane nodal curves, that is plane curves having at most…
We construct invariants for any closed semipositive symplectic manifold which count rational curves satisfying tangency constraints to a local divisor. More generally, we introduce invariants involving multibranched local tangency…
A polynomial knot is a smooth embedding $\kappa: \real \to \real^n$ whose components are polynomials. The case $n = 3$ is of particular interest. It is both an object of real algebraic geometry as well as being an open ended topological…
Given a knot or link in the form of plat closure of a braid, we describe an algorithm to obtain a braid representing the same knot or link with the standard closure, and vice-versa. We analyze the three cases of knots and links: in…
A knot invariant is called skein if it is determined by a finite number of skein relations. In the paper we discuss some basic properties of skein invariants and mention some known examples of skein invariants.
We study the incompressible surfaces in the exterior of a cable knot and use this to compute the representativity and waist of most cable knots.