Related papers: A knotted minimal tree
We consider the covering of a ball in certain normed spaces by its congruent subsets and show that if the finite number of sets is not greater than the dimensionality of the space, then the centre of the ball either belongs to the interior…
We prove that deciding if a diagram of the unknot can be untangled using at most $k$ Riedemeister moves (where $k$ is part of the input) is NP-hard. We also prove that several natural questions regarding links in the $3$-sphere are NP-hard,…
We show that the class of finite rooted binary plane trees is a Ramsey class (with respect to topological embeddings that map leaves to leaves). That is, for all such trees P,H and every natural number k there exists a tree T such that for…
In this work, we introduce and study the forbidden-vertices problem. Given a polytope P and a subset X of its vertices, we study the complexity of linear optimization over the subset of vertices of P that are not contained in X. This…
We prove that for every nonnegative integer $g$, there exists a bound on the number of ends of a complete, embedded minimal surface $M$ in $\mathbb{R}^3$ of genus $g$ and finite topology. This bound on the finite number of ends when $M$ has…
If a graph $G$ can be embedded on the torus, and be embedded linklessly in $\mathbb{R}^3$, it's not known whether or not we can always find a linkless embedding of $G$ contained in the standard (unknotted) torus; We show that, for orders 9…
We consider the existence of simple closed geodesics or "geodesic knots" in finite volume orientable hyperbolic 3-manifolds. Previous results show that at least one geodesic knot always exists [Bull. London Math. Soc. 31(1) (1999) 81-86],…
Q-balls are non-topological solitons in a large family of field theories. We focus on the existence of $U(1)$ gauged Q-balls for a field theory with sixth-order potential. The problem can be reduced to proving the existence of critical…
Given a compact oriented 3-manifold M in S^3 with boundary, an (M,2n)-tangle T is a 1-manifold with 2n boundary components properly embedded in M. We say that T embeds in a link L in S^3 if T can be completed to L by a 1-manifold with 2n…
In this paper, we construct infinitely many non-isotopic 3-knots in the 5-sphere, each of which has four critical points with respect to the standard height function of the 5-sphere. This contrasts with a theorem of Scharlemann which says…
Suppose that every non-minimal bridge position of a knot $K$ is perturbed. We show that if $L$ is a $(2, 2q)$-cable link of $K$, then every non-minimal bridge position of $L$ is also perturbed.
Algorithms for minimal enclosing ball problems are often geometric in nature. To highlight the metric ingredients underlying their efficiency, we focus here on a particularly simple geodesic-based method. A recent subgradient-based study…
This paper gives necessary and sufficient conditions on a compact, connected, orientable 3-manifold M for it to contain a knot K such that M-K is irreducible and pi_1(M) embeds in pi_1(M-K). This result provides counterexamples to a…
We further explore a connection initially unveiled in Iksanov (2025) between critical beta-splitting trees and infinite `balls-in-boxes' schemes. Using the connection, we derive a new joint central limit theorem for components of the height…
Suppose M is a closed irreducible orientable 3-manifold, K is a knot in M, P and Q are bridge surfaces for K and K is not removable with respect to Q. We show that either Q is equivalent to P or $d(K,P) \leq 2-\chi(Q-K)$. If K is not a two…
Among other results, we prove the following theorem about Steiner minimal trees in $d$-dimensional Euclidean space: if two finite sets in $\mathbb{R}^d$ have unique and combinatorially equivalent Steiner minimal trees, then there is a…
We prove that the area of each nonflat genus zero free boundary minimal surface embedded in the unit $3$-ball is less than the area of its radial projection to $\mathbb{S}^2$. The inequality is asymptotically sharp, and we prove any…
If $L$ is a finite lattice, we show that there is a natural topological lattice structure on the geometric realization of its order complex $\Delta(L)$ (definition recalled). Lattice-theoretically, the resulting object is a subdirect…
We study the minimum ribbonlength for immersed planar ribbon knots and links. Our approach is to embed the space of such knots and links into a larger more tractable space of disk diagrams. When length minimisers in disk diagram space are…
A knotted ribbon is one of physical aspect of a knot. A folded ribbon knot is a depiction of a knot obtained by folding a long and thin rectangular strip to become flat. The ribbonlength of a knot type can be defined as the minimum length…