Fundamental groups in projective knot theory (Q2055075)

Summary: We relate properties of a link \(L\) in the projective space \(\mathbb{R}P^3\) to properties of the group \(\pi_1(\mathbb{R}P^3\smallsetminus L)\): \begin{itemize} \item \(L\) is isotopic to a projective line if and only if \(\pi_1(\mathbb{R}P^3 \smallsetminus L) = \mathbb{Z} \). \item \(L\) is isotopic to an affine circle if and only if \(\pi_1(\mathbb{R}P^3 \smallsetminus L) = \mathbb{Z} \ast \mathbb{Z}_{/2} \). \item \(L\) is isotopic to a link disjoint from a projective plane if and only if \(\pi_1(\mathbb{R}P^3 \smallsetminus L)\) contains a non-trivial element of order two. \end{itemize} A simple algorithm which finds a system of generators and relations for \(\pi_1(\mathbb{R}P^3 \smallsetminus L)\) in terms of a link diagram of \(L\) is provided. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1466.57001].