Counting tritangent planes of space curves (Q1059866): Difference between revisions

In this paper a formula is derived for the parity of the number of tritangent planes of a generic closed curve C in \(R^ 3\). More precisely the number T(C) of planes which are tangent at exactly three points is shown to have the same parity as the sum of the indices of the so-called ''stalls'' \((=points\) with vanishing torsion). This index is half of the number of other intersection points of C with the osculating plane through a stall. The proof makes essentially use of the dual surface of C defined by the space of all tangent planes of C. In the same issue \textit{T. Ozawa} [Topology 24, 1-14 (1985; Zbl 0525.53002)] independently obtained a formula for the integer number of tritangencies itself (not just modulo 2). This depends on finding a suitable sign for the indices of the stalls. Ozawa also has a formula regarding the different possibilities how the three points of tangency can coincide.