A graph-theoretic approach to a partial order of knots and links (Q960836)

In this paper, the authors define a notion of \(s\)-major of a link, and study it for several concrete knots and links. Let \(L\) be a link in the 3-sphere \(S^3\). We call a diagram of \(L\) a projection of \(L\) in the 2-sphere (\(\subset S^3\)) with over/under crossing information. We say that a link \(L_1\) is an \(s\)-major of a link \(L_2\) if any diagram of \(L_1\) can be transformed into a diagram of \(L_2\) by changing some crossings and smoothing some crossings. This relation induces a partial order on the set of all prime alternating links. The authors determine this partial order for all prime alternating knots and links with crossing number less than or equal to six.