Fibred double torus knots which are band-sums of torus knots (Q2372373): Difference between revisions

A knot \(K\) in \(S^3\) is a double torus knot if \(K\) can be embedded in a closed surface \(H\) of genus 2 standardly embedded in \(S^3\). These knots have been extensively studied by \textit{P. Hill} and \textit{K. Murasugi} [J. Knot Theory Ramifications 8, No.~8, 1009--1048 (1999; Zbl 0991.57010), ibid. 9, No.~5, 617--667 (2000; Zbl 0991.57011)]. This is a large class of knots that includes torus knots, connected sums of torus knots, \(2\)-bridge knots, tunnel number one knots, etc. Let \(\gamma\) be a curve on \(H\) that separates it into two once-punctured tori \(H_1\) and \(H_2\), and such that \(\gamma\) bounds a disk on each side of \(H\). Let \(K\) be a double torus knot, and suppose that \(K\) and \(\gamma\) intersect minimally. Then, for \(i=1,2\), \(H_i\cap K\) consists of a collection of at most three sets of parallel arcs; the slopes and number of arcs give a parametrization of \(K\). A knot \(K\) is a \((1,1)\)-double torus knot if both \(H_1\cap K\) and \(H_2\cap K\) consist of just a set of parallel arcs. In the paper under review, \((1,1)\)-double torus knots which are non-separating on \(H\) are studied. In general, a non-separating \((1,1)\)-double torus knot \(K_0\) is a satellite knot with pattern \(K_1\), which is a satellite knot with pattern \(K_2\), where \(K_1\) and \(K_2\) are also non-separating \((1,1)\)-double torus knots, and the companions are torus knots. The knots \(K_2\) have a simpler description, and form a special class of knots denoted by \(K(n,p| \alpha,\beta)\). An algorithm is given to calculate the Alexander polynomial of a knot \(K(n,p| \alpha,\beta)\). Using a construction of \textit{T. Kobayashi} [Knots 90, Proc. Int. Conf. Knot Theory Rel. Topics, Osaka/Japan 1990, 9--23 (1992; Zbl 0763.57005)], it is proved that a knot \(K(n,p| \alpha,\beta)\) is fibred if and only if its Alexander polynomial is monic. This is extended to the general case, proving that a non-separating \((1,1)\)-double torus knot is fibred if and only if its Alexander polynomial is monic. The genus of non-separating \((1,1)\)-double torus knots is also determined, showing that it is equal to half the degree of their Alexander polynomial.