Virtual knots undetected by 1- and 2-strand bracket polynomials (Q2569011)

It is a well-known open question whether or not there is a non-trivial classical knot with Jones (or bracket) polynomial equal to that of the unknot. In this paper, two infinite families of virtual knots with trivial bracket polynomial are defined. These virtual knots are shown to be non-trivial using the surface bracket polynomial, the three-strand bracket polynomial, and for one of the two families, the fundamental group. The paper ends with a conjecture that the three-strand bracket polynomial detects all non-trivial virtual knots.