Predicting the number and type of twist sites in a rational knot or link

MaRDI QIDQ6255141zbMATH OpenFDO

Authors Mark E. Kidwell, Kerry M. Luse

Publication date 1 October 2014

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Abstract: A rational knot or link can be put into a standard alternating format which has horizontal and vertical twist sites (double helices). The number and type of these twist sites are determined by terms of next-to-highest $z$-degree in Kauffman's regular isotopy invariant $Lambda(a,z)$. In particular, for a knot or link with $c$ crossings, the coefficient of the $z^{c-2}$ term is equal to the number of twist sites in its standard diagram. Furthermore, the coefficients of the $a^{-2}{z}^{c-2}$ and $a^2{z}^{c-2}$ terms count the number of left-turning and right-turning twist sites, respectively.

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