Criticality for the Gehring link problem

DOI10.2140/GT.2006.10.2055zbMATH Open1129.57006arXivmath/0402212OpenAlexW3099358420MaRDI QIDQ860175FDOQ860175

Authors: Jason Cantarella, Rob Kusner, John M. Sullivan, Nancy C. Wrinkle, Joseph H. G. Fu 

Publication date: 23 January 2007

Published in: Geometry \& Topology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In 1974, Gehring posed the problem of minimizing the length of two linked curves separated by unit distance. This constraint can be viewed as a measure of thickness for links, and the ratio of length over thickness as the ropelength. In this paper we refine Gehring's problem to deal with links in a fixed link-homotopy class: we prove ropelength minimizers exist and introduce a theory of ropelength criticality. Our balance criterion is a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for criticality, based on a strengthened, infinite-dimensional version of the Kuhn--Tucker theorem. We use this to prove that every critical link is C^1 with finite total curvature. The balance criterion also allows us to explicitly describe critical configurations (and presumed minimizers) for many links including the Borromean rings. We also exhibit a surprising critical configuration for two clasped ropes: near their tips the curvature is unbounded and a small gap appears between the two components. These examples reveal the depth and richness hidden in Gehring's problem and our natural extension.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0402212

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zbMATH Keywords

constrained minimizationlink groupropelengthrigidity theoryClarke gradientideal knotsimple clasptight knotlink homotopyMangasarian-Fromovitz constraint qualificationGehring link problemKuhn--Tucker theorem

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Optimization of shapes other than minimal surfaces (49Q10) Curves in Euclidean and related spaces (53A04)

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Cited In (21)

• Knot tightening by constrained gradient descent
• Locking constraints for elastic rods and a curvature bound for spatial curves
• A class of curves in every knot type where chords of high distortion are common
• Self-contact for rods on cylinders
• The distortion of a knotted curve
• Repulsive knot energies and pseudodifferential calculus for O'Hara's knot energy family \(E^{(\alpha )}, \alpha \in [2, 3)\)
• POLYGONAL KNOT SPACE NEAR ROPELENGTH-MINIMIZED KNOTS
• A Gordian pair of links
• The weak Frenet frame of non-smooth curves with finite total curvature and absolute torsion
• On rectifiable curves with \(L^{p}\)-bounds on global curvature: self-avoidance, regularity, and minimizing knots
• Testing a conjecture on quantum electrodynamics
• Symmetric criticality for tight knots
• Some ropelength-critical clasps
• Ropelength criticality
• Weak curvatures of irregular curves in high-dimensional Euclidean spaces
• THE ZONE MODULUS OF A LINK
• Existence of a critical Gompertz parameter and its asymptotic expression
• What are the longest ropes on the unit sphere?
• Menger curvature as a knot energy
• Quadrisecants give new lower bounds for the ropelength of a knot
• On some knot energies involving Menger curvature

Uses Software

• Surface Evolver

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