Characterizing slopes for satellite knots (Q6562855)

For a given knot \(K\) in the \(3\)-sphere \(S^3\), we say that \(p/q\) is a characterizing slope for \(K\) if whenever the result of \(p/q\)-surgery on a knot \(K'\) in \(S^3\) is orientation preservingly homeomorphic to the result of \(p/q\)-surgery on \(K\), then \(K'\) is isotopic to \(K\).\N\NFor the unknot, the trefoil knots and the figure eight knot, all non-trivial slopes are known to be characterizing slopes; see [\textit{P. B. Kronheimer} et al., Ann. Math. (2) 165, No. 2, 457--546 (2007; Zbl 1204.57038) and \textit{P. Ozsváth} and \textit{Z. Szabó}, J. Symplectic Geom. 17, No. 1, 251--265 (2019; Zbl 1444.57007)]. \textit{M. Lackenby} [Math. Ann. 374, No. 1--2, 429--446 (2019; Zbl 1421.57009)] showed that for any hyperbolic knot, slopes \(p/q\) are characterizing slopes provided \(|q|\) is sufficiently large. For torus knots, \textit{D. McCoy} [Commun. Anal. Geom. 28, No. 7, 1647--1682 (2020; Zbl 1468.57006)] showed that there are only finitely many non-integral, non-characterizing slopes.\N\NIn the paper under review, the author establishes that any slope \(p/q\) is characterizing for any satellite knot provided \(|q|\) is sufficiently large. Hence, together with the results of Lackenby and McCoy, any slope \(p/q\) is characterizing for any knot provided \(|q|\) is sufficiently large. Furthermore, for composite knots \(K\), the author proves that every non-integral slope is characterizing for \(K\). As a corollary to this result, for infinitely many composite knots given in [\textit{K. L. Baker} and \textit{K. Motegi}, Algebr. Geom. Topol. 18, No. 3, 1461--1480 (2018; Zbl 1422.57010)] the author proves that the set of non-characterizing slopes consists of all integral slopes. It should be mentioned that these are the first examples of knots for which the complete list of non-characterizing slopes is determined and is not empty.