The existence of a universal transverse knot (Q2092755)

Let \(K\) be a knot in \(S^3\). \(K\) is called universal if any compact orientable \(3\)-manifold is obtained as a covering space of \(S^3\) branched along \(K\), [\textit{W. P. Thurston}, ``Universal links'', Preprint (1982), available at \url{http://personal.cimat.mx:8181/~victor/thurston-universalLinks.pdf}]. On the other hand, \textit{J. Gonzalo} defined contact coverings branched along a transverse link that is a link transverse to the given contact structure [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 101, 347--352 (1987; Zbl 0629.53035) ]. \textit{M. Casey} raised the analogous question of the existence of universal links in the contact sense: Is there a transverse link \(L\) in \((S^3, \xi_{std})\) so that any contact three-manifold \((M,\xi)\) can be obtained as a contact branched covering of \((S^3, \xi_{std})\) along \(L\), where \(\xi_{std}\) is the standard tight contact structure on \(S^3\) in [Branched covers of contact manifolds. Atlanta, GA: Georgia Institute of Technology (Ph.D. thesis) (2013)]. \textit{R. Casal} and \textit{J. Etnyre} answered this question positively in [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 102, 43--55 (2019; Zbl 1455.53091)]. In the paper under review, the authors answer the question of the existence of universal transverse knots instead of links. The main result in the paper under review says that there is a transverse knot \(K\) in \((S^3,\xi_{std})\) so that every contact three-manifold \((M,\xi)\) can be obtained as a contact covering space of \((S^3,\xi_{std})\) branched along \(K\). In order to prove this result, the authors construct a contact covering \(\phi:(S^3,\xi_{std})\rightarrow (S^3,\xi_{std})\) branched along some transverse knot \(K\) so that \(\phi^{-1}(K)\) contains a sublink which is contact isotopic to the universal transverse link \(L\) given in [loc. cit.]. The authors derive this result from the relation between contact structures, transverse knots, open books, and braids.