Minimal genus Seifert surfaces for special arborescent links (Q1804693)

Let \(T\) be a finite plane tree and \(w\) a function from the vertex set \(V(T)\) of \(T\) to \(\mathbb{Z}-\{0\}\). Then the boundary of a surface, constructed by successive plumbing of \(w(v)\)-twisted unknotted annuli in \(S^3\) \((v\in V(T))\) as specified by \(T\), is called a special arborescent link. In this paper, the author classifies the minimal genus Seifert surfaces for these links. Explicitly, he determines the structure of the simplicial complex defined by \textit{O. Kakimizu} [Hiroshima Math. J. 22, 225-236 (1992; Zbl 0774.57006)] as follows; (1) the vertex set of \(MS(L)\) is the set of the isotopy classes of the minimal genus Seifert surfaces for \(L\), and (2) a set of \(k+1\) vertices of \(MS(L)\) spans a \(k\)-simplex of \(MS(L)\) if and only if they have representatives that are mutually disjoint in the exterior of \(L\). As a consequence of the result, it follows that \(MS(L)\) is homeomorphic to a ball for each special arborescent link \(L\). This gives a partial positive answer to the conjecture of Kakimizu that \(MS(L)\) is contractible. A very special arborescent link is a special arborescent link where \(|w(v)|\geq 2\) for any \(v\in V(T)\). The author classifies the plumbing structure, or the 4-Murasugi sum structures, for the minimal genus Seifert surfaces for very special arborescent links. As applications, (1) the symmetry groups of very special arborescent links are determined and (2) it is shown that the unknotting numbers of very special arborescent links are greater than 1 by using the results of \textit{T. Kobayashi} [Kobe J. Math. 6, 53-62 (1989; Zbl 0688.57007)] and \textit{M. Scharlemann} and \textit{A. Thompson} [Comment. Math. Helv. 64, 527-535 (1989; Zbl 0693.57004)].