2-bridges \(\theta\)-curves in \(S^3\) (Q1591084)

In [Math. Z. 61, 245-288 (1954; Zbl 0058.17403)] an invariant of knots in the 3-sphere \(S^3\) called the bridge number was introduced by \textit{H. Schubert}. This idea was extended to \(\theta\)-curves by \textit{H. Goda} [Topology Appl. 79, No.~3, 177-196 (1997; Zbl 0888.57003)]. It is shown here that the well-known result stating that every knot with bridge number 2 is prime is not generalizable to \(\theta\)-curves with bridge number 2 in \(S^3\). The main result of the paper gives the necessary and sufficient conditions for a \(\theta\)-curve with bridge number 2 in \(S^3\) to be non-prime in terms of rational \(\theta\)-curves.