The \(L^2\)-Alexander invariant detects the unknot (Q2807116)

As the title suggests, the main result of this paper is that the \(L^2\)-Alexander invariant detects the unknot. That is, the unknot is the only knot in \(S^3\) for which the invariant is trivial. It is noted, on the other hand, that the invariant does take the same value on some distinct torus knots. Loosely, the idea behind \(L^2\) invariants is replacing finite dimensional vector spaces in invariant constructions by infinite dimensional Hilbert spaces.NEWLINENEWLINEThe proof uses previous work of \textit{W. Lück} [\(L^2\)-invariants: Theory and applications to geometry and \(K\)-theory. Berlin: Springer (2002; Zbl 1009.55001)] to reduce the knots under consideration to those that can be formed from the unknot by repeated use of cabling and connected sums. Inductive steps then show that these operations either return the unknot or lead to a non-trivial \(L^2\)-Alexander invariant.