A new unknotting operation for classical and welded links

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ali, Danish, Yang, Zhiqing, Sheikh, Mohd Ibrahim, Batool, Sidra
Format: Preprint
Published: 2022
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author Ali, Danish
Yang, Zhiqing
Sheikh, Mohd Ibrahim
Batool, Sidra
author_facet Ali, Danish
Yang, Zhiqing
Sheikh, Mohd Ibrahim
Batool, Sidra
contents Any knot diagram can be transformed into the unknot by a series of unknotting operations. This paper introduces the diagonal move, a novel unknotting operation that generalizes and unifies several existing moves. We prove that the diagonal move is an efficient unknotting operation for both classical and welded knots, demonstrating that any knot or link can be reduced to the unknot or unlink via a finite sequence of diagonal moves and Reidemeister moves. Additionally, we analyze the distance between knots under diagonal moves, showing that it often requires fewer operations than traditional crossing changes, and extend our results to welded knots, confirming the diagonal move's applicability in this broader setting. Our findings provide a powerful new tool for knot simplification and equivalence, advancing topological and combinatorial knot theory.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2208_08761
institution arXiv
publishDate 2022
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A new unknotting operation for classical and welded links
Ali, Danish
Yang, Zhiqing
Sheikh, Mohd Ibrahim
Batool, Sidra
Geometric Topology
57K10, 57K12
Any knot diagram can be transformed into the unknot by a series of unknotting operations. This paper introduces the diagonal move, a novel unknotting operation that generalizes and unifies several existing moves. We prove that the diagonal move is an efficient unknotting operation for both classical and welded knots, demonstrating that any knot or link can be reduced to the unknot or unlink via a finite sequence of diagonal moves and Reidemeister moves. Additionally, we analyze the distance between knots under diagonal moves, showing that it often requires fewer operations than traditional crossing changes, and extend our results to welded knots, confirming the diagonal move's applicability in this broader setting. Our findings provide a powerful new tool for knot simplification and equivalence, advancing topological and combinatorial knot theory.
title A new unknotting operation for classical and welded links
topic Geometric Topology
57K10, 57K12
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.08761