Topological and physical link theory are distinct

DOI10.2140/PJM.2015.276.387zbMATH Open1326.53008arXiv1203.4019OpenAlexW3106418390MaRDI QIDQ2516656FDOQ2516656

Authors: Alexander Coward, Joel R. Hass 

Publication date: 4 August 2015

Published in: Pacific Journal of Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Physical knots and links are one-dimensional submanifolds of R^3 with fixed length and thickness. We show that isotopy classes in this category can differ from those of classical knot and link theory. In particular we exhibit a Gordian Split Link, a two component link that is split in the classical theory but cannot be split with a physical isotopy.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1203.4019

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zbMATH Keywords

Gordian, split linkphysical knot theory

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Curves in Euclidean and related spaces (53A04)

Cited In (3)

• A Gordian pair of links
• The ropelength of complex knots
• Ropelength criticality

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