On connected sums and Legendrian knots. (Q1413192)

This paper analyzes the behavior of Legendrian and transverse knots under connected sums. The main result of the paper asserts that the classification of connected sums of Legendrian knots can be understood from the classification of each factor. The main tool is the theory of convex surfaces in contact 3-manifolds introduced by \textit{E. Giroux} [Comment. Math. Helv. 66, 637--677 (1991; Zbl 0766.53028)], and the theorem can be viewed as a relative version of \textit{V. Colin's} glueing theorem for tight contact structures [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 324, No. 6, 659--663 (1997; Zbl 0876.57051)]. As a consequence of this theorem and the classification of Legendrian torus knots by the same authors in [J. Symplectic Geom. 1, No. 1, 63--120 (2001; Zbl 1037.57021)], the existence of Legendrian knots is shown which are not contact isotopic but are not distinguished by all known invariants. In addition, for any integer \(m\) there exist Legendrian knots with identical invariants which remain non-Legendrian-isotopic after \(m\) stabilizations.