Periodic projections of alternating knots (Q2049867)

This paper proves that for \(q\) greater than 2 every \(q\)-periodic prime alternating knot admits an alternating projection for which its \(q\)-periodicity is visible as a rotation of the knot diagram [Visibility Theorem 3.1], demonstrating as an application that the crossing number of such a knot is always a multiple of \(q\). It also shows, in an elementary way that does not depend on computer calculations, that knot 12a634 [Figure 24] is not \(q\)-periodic (an example which, this reviewer notes, has multiple 3-colorings with visible linking numbers between the branch curves of its corresponding 3-fold non-cyclic covering spaces, when projected in convenient ways). For earlier work on periodicity, using covering linking invariants, see \textit{K. Murasugi}'s paper [Tsukuba J. Math. 4, 331--347 (1980; Zbl 0469.57002)].