Knots with algebraic unknotting number one (Q1322101)

In [Quest. Answers Gen. Topology 8, 283-292 (1990; Zbl 0704.57004)], \textit{H. Murakami} introduced the notion of an algebraic unknotting operation on Seifert matrices and defined the algebraic unknotting number \(u_ a (K)\) of a knot \(K\) by using the notion. This satisfies the inequality \(u_ a (K) \leq u(K)\), where \(u(K)\) is the unknotting number of \(K\). In the paper under review, the author gives a characterization of knots with \(u_ a (K) = 1\). Namely, he proves that a knot with Alexander polynomial \(\Delta_ K\) has \(u_ a(K) = 1\) if and only if the Alexander module is cyclic and has a generator \(g\) with \(\beta (g,g) = \pm 1/ \Delta_ K\), where \(\beta\) is the Blanchfield pairing. The only if part had been proved by Murakami. As an application, the author shows that the knot \(8_{10}\), which is thought to have unknotting number 2, has algebraic unknotting number 1. This shows that abelian methods cannot be used to show its unknotting number is actually 2.