Related papers: Knots on a positive template have a bounded number…
This is the first in a series of four papers wherein we enumerate all prime alternating knots and links. In this first paper, we introduce four operators on knots and show that, when used according to very simple rules on the prime…
The existence of stable links and knots is demonstrated in three-dimensional, bistable, chemical media. The reaction-diffusion medium segregates into regions of high and low concentration separated by sharp interfaces. The interfaces repel…
We prove that if a smooth vector field $F$ of $S^3$ generates a sufficiently complicated heteroclinic knot, the flow also generates infinitely many periodic orbits, which persist under smooth perturbations which preserve the heteroclinic…
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…
Knots have a twisted history in quantum physics. They were abandoned as failed models of atoms. Only much later was the connection between knot invariants and Wilson loops in topological quantum field theory discovered. Here we show that…
A 2-sphere embedded in the 4-sphere invariant under a circle action is called a branched twist spin. A branched twist spin is constructed from a 1-knot in the 3-sphere and a pair of coprime integers uniquely. In this paper, we study, for…
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…
Using Monte Carlo simulations and advanced knot localization methods, we analyze the length and distribution of prime components in composite knots tied on Freely Jointed Rings (FJRs). For increasing contour length, we observe the…
This paper contains the first knot polynomials which can distinguish the orientations of classical knots and which make no excplicit use of the knot group. But they make extensive use of the meridian and of the longitude in a geometric way.…
We consider the ways minimal sets of flows in $S^3$ may be embedded. We prove that given any $C^2$ flow on $S^3$ with positive entropy, there is an uncountable collection $\mathcal{M}$ of topologically distinct minimal sets such that for…
We study positive braid knots (the knots in the three-sphere realized as positive braid closures) through the lens of the L-space conjecture. This conjecture predicts that if $K$ is a non-trivial positive braid knot, then for all $r <…
Relative self-linking and linking "numbers" for pairs of knots in oriented 3-manifolds are defined in terms of intersection invariants of immersed surfaces in 4-manifolds. The resulting concordance invariants generalize the usual…
Examples are given to show that some compact contractible 4-manifolds can be knotted in the 4-sphere. It is then proved that any finitely presented perfect group with a balanced presentation is a knot group for an embedding of some…
It was conjectured by Lopez that every closed irreducible non-Haken 3-manifold contains a small knot. In this paper, we give explicit examples of hyperbolic small knots in most closed orientable spherical 3-manifolds other than prism…
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 authors conjectured previously that a knot is nonfibered if and only if its infinite cyclic cover has uncountably many finite covers. We prove the conjecture for a class of knots that includes all knots of genus 1, using techniques from…
We develop a reinforcement learning pipeline for simplifying knot diagrams. A trained agent learns move proposals and a value heuristic for navigating Reidemeister moves. The pipeline applies to arbitrary knots and links; we test it on…
Any knot group is the image of the group of a prime knot by a homomorphism that preserves peripheral structure. In fact, there are infinitely many such prime knots. A related partial order on knots is defined, and its properties are…
We show that if a classical knot diagram satisfies a certain combinatorial condition then it is minimal with respect to the number of classical crossings. This statement is proved by using the Kauffman bracket and the construction of atoms…
A positive braid with at least one full twist is known to be a minimal braid, i.e, it achieves the braid index for its closure. In this paper we find knots that are the closure of positive minimal braids that cannot be represented by…