Growth rates of \(n\)-knots (Q1183662)

Let \(K\) be an oriented \(n\)-knot with finitely generated commutator subgroup \(\pi_ 1'(K)\). The author defines the growth rate \(\gamma_ K\) of \(K\) in terms of the automorphism of \(\pi_ 1'(K)\) given by conjugation by a meridian. He shows that \(\gamma_ k\) is well-defined, and calculates the growth rate of a satellite knot in terms of the growth rates of its companion and its pattern (under certain hypotheses which differ according as \(n=1\) or \(n>1\)). As a corollary, it follows that \(\gamma_{K+L}=\max(\gamma_ K,\gamma_ L)\), where \(K+L\) denotes the connected sum of \(K\) and \(L\). As an application of \(\gamma_ K\), it is shown that for any integer polynomial \(f(t)\) satisfying the well-known necessary conditions, there exist infinitely many distinct doubly-slice fibred ribbon knots \(K\subset S^ 3\) with Alexander polynomial \(f(t)f(t^{-1})\) and having the same Seifert form. Finally, there is a section relating ribbon concordance and growth rates. In particular, if \(K\) and \(L\) are fibred 1-knots and \(K\geq L\) in the sense of Gordon, it is shown that \(\gamma_ K\geq \gamma_ L\).