A knot K is called n-adjacent to the unknot, if K admits a projection containing n generalized crossings such that changing any m (no larger than n) of them yields a projection of the unknot. We show that a non-trivial satellite knot K is n-adjacent to the unknot, for some n>0, if and only if it is n-adjacent to the unknot in any companion solid torus. In particular, every model knot of K is n-adjacent to the unknot. Along the way of proving these results, we also show that 2-bridge knots of the form K_{p/q}, where p/q=[2q_1,2q_2] for some integers q_1,q_2, are precisely those knots that have genus one and are 2-adjacent to the unknot.
A knot K is called Gordian adjacent to a knot L if there exists an unknotting sequence for L containing K. We provide a sufficient condition for Gordian adjacency of torus knots via the study of knots in the thickened torus. We also completely describe Gordian adjacency for torus knots of index 2 and 3 using Levine-Tristram signatures as obstructions to Gordian adjacency. Finally, Gordian adjacency for torus knots is compared to the notion of adjacency for plane curve singularities.
A knot $K_1$ is said to be Gordian adjacent to a knot $K_2$ if $K_1$ is an intermediate knot on an unknotting sequence of $K_2$. We extend previous results on Gordian adjacency by showing sufficient conditions for Gordian adjacency between classes of positive braid knots through manipulations of braid words. In addition, we explore unknotting sequences of positive braid knots and give a proof that there are only finitely many positive braid knots for a given unknotting number.
It is known that the Alexander polynomial detects fibered knots and 3-manifolds that fiber over the circle. In this note, we show that when the Alexander polynomial becomes inconclusive, the notion of "knot adjacency", studied in the paper "Knot adjacency, genus and essential tori" by the authors, can be used to obtain obstructions to fibering of knots and of 3-manifolds. As an application, given a fibered knot K', we construct infinitely many non-fibered knots that share the same Alexander module and the same Vassiliev invariants up to certain orders with K'. Our construction also provides, f…
A knot K is called n-adjacent to another knot K', if K admits a projection containing n generalized crossings such that changing any 0 < m \leq n of them yields a projection of K'. We apply techniques from the theory of sutured 3-manifolds, Dehn surgery and the theory of geometric structures of 3-manifolds to answer the question of the extent to which non-isotopic knots can be adjacent to each other. A consequence of our main result is that if K is n-adjacent to K' for all n, then K and K' are isotopic. This provides a partial verification of the conjecture of V. Vassiliev that the finite type…
Knot Floer homology is an invariant for knots in the three-sphere for which the Euler characteristic is the Alexander-Conway polynomial of the knot. The aim of this paper is to study this homology for a class of satellite knots, so as to see how a certain relation between the Alexander-Conway polynomials of the satellite, companion and pattern is generalized on the level of the knot Floer homology. We also use our observations to study a classical geometric invariant, the Seifert genus, of our satellite knots.
Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for a satellite knot to be fibered. Any knot $\tilde k$ embeds in an unknotted solid torus $\tilde V$ with arbitrary winding number in such a way that no satellite knot with pattern $(\tilde V, \tilde k)$ is fibered. In particular, there exist nonfibered satellite knots with fibered pattern and companion knots and nonzero winding number.
We give sufficient conditions for a satellite knot to admit an L-space surgery, and use this result to give new infinite families of patterns which produce satellite L-space knots.
The genus of satellite tunnel number one knots and torti-rational knots is computed using the tools introduced by Floyd and Hatcher. An implementation of an algorithm is given to compute genus and slopes of minimal genus Seifert surfaces for such knots.
We show an infinite family of satellite knots that can be unknotted by a single band move, but such that there is no band unknotting the knots which is disjoint from the satellite torus.
We generalize C. Van Cott's results on the $τ$ and $s$-invariants of cabled knots to apply to general satellite knots. This paper uses no Heegaard-Floer homology, relying on more geometric techniques.
In this paper, we show that the Gluck twist of certain satellite $2$-knots in a $4$-manifold do not change the diffeomorphism type in three different ways: one is directly from the definition of the satellite $2$-knot, and the other two are by finding an equivalent description of the satellite $2$-knot. Furthermore, using the new description, we gave infinite number of new examples of $2$-knots which are unknotted by connected summing a single standard real projective plane.
Thin position for knots in the 3-sphere was introduced by Gabai and has been used in a variety of contexts. We conjecture an analogue to a theorem of Schubert and Schultens concerning the bridge number of satellite knots. For a satellite knot K, we use the companion torus T to provide a lower bound for w(K), proving the conjecture for K with a 2-bridge companion. As a corollary, we find thin position for any satellite knot with a braid pattern and 2-bridge companion.
In the paper we prove the conjecture by Alexander Zupan that $w(K) \geqslant n^2w(J)$ where w denote the width and $K$ and $J$ are satellite knot and its companion with winding number $n$. Also we proved that for satellite knot with braid pattern, the equality holds.
Techniques are introduced which determine the geometric structure of non-simple two-generator $3$-manifolds from purely algebraic data. As an application, the satellite knots in the $3$-sphere with a two-generator presentation in which at least one generator is represented by a meridian for the knot are classified.
In this master thesis, I present a new family of knots in the solid torus called lassos, and their properties. Given a knot $K$ with Alexander polynomial $Δ_K(t)$, I then use these lassos as patterns to construct families of satellite knots that have Alexander polynomial $Δ_K(t^d)$ where $d\in\mathbb{N}\cup \{0\}$. In particular, I prove that if $d\in\{0,1,2,3\}$ these satellite knots have different Jones polynomials. For this purpose, I give rise to a formula for calculating the Jones polynomial of a satellite knot in terms of the Jones polynomials of its pattern and companion.
For pattern knots admitting genus-one bordered Heegaard diagrams, we show the knot Floer chain complexes of the corresponding satellite knots can be computed using immersed curves. This, in particular, gives a convenient way to compute the $τ$-invariant. For patterns $P$ obtained from two-bridge links $b(p,q)$, we derive a formula for the $τ$-invariant of $P(T_{2,3})$ and $P(-T_{2,3})$ in terms of $(p,q)$, and use this formula to study whether such patterns induce homomorphisms on the concordance group, providing a glimpse at a conjecture due to Hedden.
We construct infinitely many families of Lorenz knots that are satellites but not cables, giving counterexamples to a conjecture attributed to Morton. We amend the conjecture to state that Lorenz knots that are satellite have companion a Lorenz knot, and pattern equivalent to a Lorenz knot. We show this amended conjecture holds very broadly: it is true for all Lorenz knots obtained by high Dehn filling on a parent link, and other examples.
We show that if K is a satellite knot which admits a generalized cosmetic crossing change of order q with |q| \geq 6, then K admits a pattern knot with a generalized cosmetic crossing change of the same order. As a consequence of this, we find that any prime satellite knot which admits a pattern knot that is fibered cannot admit a generalized cosmetic crossing changes of order q with |q| \geq 6. We also show that if there is any knot admitting a generalized cosmetic crossing change of order q with |q| \geq 6, then there must be such a knot which is hyperbolic.
We present a large family of knots for which the Rasmussen s-invariants of arbitrary satellites do not detect sliceness. This answers a question of Hedden. The proof hinges on work of Kronheimer-Mrowka and Cochran-Harvey-Horn.
We present a proof of Litherland's formula for the Tristram-Levine signature of a satellite knot in terms of its constituents. Litherland's original proof used more advanced algebraic techniques, while ours uses only linear algebra and some basic results in knot theory.
We study the effect of satellite operations on the Upsilon invariant of Ozsvath-Stipsicz-Szabo. We obtain results concerning when a knot and its satellites are independent; for example, we show that the set $\{D_{2^i,1}\}_{i=1}^\infty$ is a basis for an infinite rank summand of the group of smooth concordance classes of topologically slice knots, for D the positive clasped untwisted Whitehead double of any knot with positive tau-invariant, e.g. the right-handed trefoil. We also prove that the image of the Mazur satellite operator on the smooth knot concordance group contains an infinite rank s…
Let $P(K)$ be a satellite knot where the pattern, $P$, is a Berge-Gabai knot (i.e., a knot in the solid torus with a non-trivial solid torus Dehn surgery), and the companion, $K$, is a non-trivial knot in $S^3$. We prove that $P(K)$ is an L-space knot if and only if $K$ is an L-space knot and $P$ is sufficiently positively twisted relative to the genus of $K$. This generalizes the result for cables due to Hedden and the first author.
Any knot in a solid torus, called a pattern or satellite operator, acts on knots in the 3-sphere via the satellite construction. We introduce a generalization of satellite operators which form a group (unlike traditional satellite operators), modulo a generalization of concordance. This group has an action on the set of knots in homology spheres, using which we recover the recent result of Cochran and the authors that satellite operators with strong winding number $\pm 1$ give injective functions on topological concordance classes of knots, as well as smooth concordance classes of knots modulo…
In this work we establish the tightest lower bound up-to-date for the minimal crossing number of a satellite knot based on the minimal crossing number of the companion used to build the satellite. If $M$ is the wrapping number of the pattern knot, we essentially show that $c(Sat(P,C))>\frac{M^2}{2}c(C)$. The existence of this bound will be proven when the companion knot is adequate, and it will be further tuned in the case of the companion being alternating.
We study the knot invariant called trunk, as defined by Ozawa, and the relation of the trunk of a satellite knot with the trunk of its companion knot. Our first result is ${\rm trunk}(K) \geq n \cdot {\rm trunk}(J)$ where ${\rm trunk}(\cdot)$ denotes the trunk of a knot, $K$ is a satellite knot with companion $J$, and $n$ is the winding number of $K$. To upgrade winding number to wrapping number, which we denote by $m$, we must include an extra factor of $\frac{1}{2}$ in our second result ${\rm trunk}(K) > \frac{1}{2} m\cdot {\rm trunk}(J)$ since $m \geq n$. We also discuss generalizations of …
Given a fixed knot P in a solid torus and any knot K in S^3, one can form the satellite of K with pattern P. This operation induces a self-map of the concordance group of knots in S^3. It has been proved by Dai, Hedden, Mallick, and Stoffregen that in the smooth category there exist P for which this function is rank-expanding; that is, for some K, the set {P(nK)} generates an infinite rank subgroup. Here we demonstrate that similar examples exist in the case of the topological locally flat concordance group. Such examples cannot exist in the algebraic concordance group.
We use bordered Floer theory to study properties of twisted Mazur pattern satellite knots $Q_{n}(K)$. We prove that $Q_n(K)$ is not Floer homologically thin, with two exceptions. We calculate the 3-genus of $Q_{n}(K)$ in terms of the twisting parameter $n$ and the 3-genus of the companion $K$, and we determine when $Q_n(K)$ is fibered. As an application to our results on Floer thickness and 3-genus, we verify the Cosmetic Surgery Conjecture for many of these satellite knots.
Let P be a knot in an unknotted solid torus (i.e. a satellite operator or pattern), K a knot in S^3 and P(K) the satellite of K with pattern P. For any satellite operator P, this correspondence gives a function P : C -> C on the set of smooth concordance classes of knots. We give examples of winding number one satellite operators P and a class of knots K, such that the iterated satellites P^i(K) are distinct as smooth concordance classes, i.e. if i=/=j>0, P^i(K)=/=P^j(K), where each P^i is unknotted when considered as a knot in S^3. This implies that the operators P^i give distinct functions o…
We define the property (D) for nontrivial knots. We show that the fundamental group of the manifold obtained by Dehn surgery on a knot $K$ with property (D) with slope $\frac{p}{q}\ge 2g(K)-1$ is not left orderable. By making full use of the fixed point method, we prove that (1) nontrivial knots which are closures of positive $1$-bridge braids have property (D); (2) L-space satellite knots, with positive $1$-bridge braid patterns, and companion with property (D), have property (D); (3) the fundamental group of the manifold obtained by Dehn filling on $v2503$ is not left orderable. Additionally…
Mutant knots, in the sense of Conway, are known to share the same Homfly polynomial. Their 2-string satellites also share the same Homfly polynomial, but in general their m-string satellites can have different Homfly polynomials for m>2. We show that, under conditions of extra symmetry on the constituent 2-tangles, the directed m-string satellites of mutants share the same Homfly polynomial for m<6 in general, and for all choices of m when the satellite is based on a cable knot pattern. We give examples of mutants with extra symmetry whose Homfly polynomials of some 6-string satellites are dif…
We exhibit a knot $P$ in the solid torus, representing a generator of first homology, such that for any knot $K$ in the 3-sphere, the satellite knot with pattern $P$ and companion $K$ is not smoothly slice in any homology 4-ball. As a consequence, we obtain a knot in a homology 3-sphere that does not bound a piecewise-linear disk in any homology 4-ball.
This paper presents evidence supporting the surprising conjecture that in the topological category the slice genus of a satellite knot $P(K)$ is bounded above by the sum of the slice genera of $K$ and $P(U)$. Our main result establishes this conjecture for a variant of the topological slice genus, the $\mathbb{Z}$-slice genus. As an application, we show that the $(n,1)$-cable of any 3-genus 1 knot (e.g. the figure 8 or trefoil knot) has topological slice genus at most 1. Further, we show that the lower bounds on the slice genus coming from the Tristram-Levine and Casson-Gordon signatures canno…
Satellite constructions on a knot can be thought of as taking some strands of a knot and then tying in another knot. Using satellite constructions one can construct many distinct isotopy classes of knots. Pushing this further one can construct distinct concordance classes of knots which preserve some algebraic invariants. Infection is a generalization of satellite operations, which has been previously studies. An infection by a string link can be thought of as grabbing a knot at multiple locations and then tying in a link. Cochran, Friedl and Techner showed that any algebraically slice knot is…
Given a knot $K$ in $S^3$, a question raised by Cappell and Shaneson asks if the meridional rank of $K$ equals the bridge number of $K$. Using augmentations in knot contact homology we consider the persistence of equality between these two invariants under satellite operations on $K$ with a braid pattern. In particular, we answer the question in the affirmative for a large class of iterated torus knots.
Given a 3-manifold $Y$ and a free homotopy class in $[S^1,Y]$, we investigate the set of topological concordance classes of knots in $Y \times [0,1]$ representing the given homotopy class. The concordance group of knots in the 3-sphere acts on this set. We show in many cases that the action is not transitive, using two techniques. Our first technique uses Reidemeister torsion invariants, and the second uses linking numbers in covering spaces. In particular, we show using covering links that for the trivial homotopy class, and for any 3-manifold that is not the 3-sphere, the set of orbits is in…
We show that there exist infinitely many pairs of distinct knots in the 3-sphere such that each pair can yield homeomorphic lens spaces by the same Dehn surgery. Moreover, each knot of the pair can be chosen to be a torus knot, a satellite knot or a hyperbolic knot, except that both cannot be satellite knots simultaneously. This exception is shown to be unavoidable by the classical theory of binary quadratic forms.
We consider compact 3-manifolds M having a submersion h to R in which each generic point inverse is a planar surface. The standard height function on a submanifold of the 3-sphere is a motivating example. To (M, h) we associate a connectivity graph G. For M in the 3-sphere, G is a tree if and only if there is a Fox reimbedding of M which carries horizontal circles to a complete collection of complementary meridian circles. On the other hand, if the connectivity graph of the complement of M is a tree, then there is a level-preserving reimbedding of M so that its complement is a connected sum of…
The main goal of this article is to obtain a condition under which an infinite collection $\mathscr{F}$ of satellite knots (with companion a positive torus knot and pattern similar to the Whitehead link) freely generates a subgroup of infinite rank in the smooth concordance group. This goal is attained by examining both the instanton moduli space over a 4-manifold with tubular ends and the corresponding Chern-Simons invariant of the adequate 3-dimensional portion of the 4-manifold. More specifically, the result is derived from Furuta's criterion for the independence of Seifert fibred homology …
Most of the 50-year history of the study of the set of knot concordance classes, C, has focused on its structure as an abelian group. Here we take a different approach, namely we study C as a metric space admitting many natural geometric operators, especially satellite operators. We consider several knot concordance spaces, corresponding to different categories of concordance, and two different metrics. We establish the existence of quasi-n-flats for every n, implying that C admits no quasi-isometric embedding into a finite product of (Gromov) hyperbolic spaces. We show that every satellite op…
We study satellites of Legendrian knots in R^3 and their relation to the Chekanov-Eliashberg differential graded algebra of the knot. In particular, we generalize the well-known correspondence between rulings of a Legendrian knot in R^3 and augmentations of its DGA by showing that the DGA has finite-dimensional representations if and only if there exist certain rulings of satellites of the knot. We derive several consequences of this result, notably that the question of existence of ungraded finite-dimensional representations for the DGA of a Legendrian knot depends only on the topological typ…
