Jones diameter and crossing number of knots (Q2689544)

Let \(jd_{K}\) and \(c(K)\) denote the Jones diameter and the crossing number of the knot \(K\), respectively. The independent work of Kauffman, Murasugi, and Thistlethwaite implies that \(jd_{K} \leq 2c(K)\) for any knot \(K\) and the equality holds if \(K\) is adequate. In this paper, the authors prove that the equality forces \(K\) to be adequate. This result has many significant applications in determining the crossing number of broad families of non-adequate prime satellite knots. In particular, the authors determine the crossing number of untwisted Whitehead doubles of zero-writhe adequate knots. This includes, for instance, the Whitehead doubles of the connected sum of any alternating knot with its mirror image. Also, they determine the crossing number of the connected sum of any adequate knot with an untwisted Whitehead double of a zero-writhe adequate knot.