Groups of ribbon knots (Q1378007)

The group \({\mathcal V}_n\) of \(V_n\)-equivalence classes of knot types has been introduced by the author and \textit{Stanford} [Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc., to appear], making use both of Gusarov's definition of \(n\)-equivalent knots [\textit{M. Gusarov}, Adv. Sov. Math. 18, 173-192 (1994; Zbl 0865.57007)] and of Vassiliev's work about finite type invariants of knots [\textit{V. A. Vasiliev}, ibid. 1, 23-69 (1990; Zbl 0727.57008)]. The main result in the present paper states that, for each positive integer \(n\), the \(V_n\)-equivalence classes of ribbon knot types form an index two subgroup \({\mathcal R}_n\) of \({\mathcal V}_n\); then, the rank of \({\mathcal R}_n\) equals the number of linearly independent primitive Vassiliev invariants of order \(\leq n\). As a consequence, several interesting results follow about the relationship between knot cobordism and the \(V_n\)-equivalence relation: for example, the Arf invariant is proved to be the only Vassiliev invariant which is also an additive knot cobordism invariant. The paper ends with an improved upper bound for the number of independent Vassiliev invariants of order \(n\).