On the visibility of the +achirality of alternating knots (Q2025807)

This article discusses the visibility of the achirality of prime alternating knots. The authors ask if it is possible to see the achirality of an alternating knot on one of its projections. For negative achirality, the answer is affirmative by \textit{N. Ermotti} et al. [Ann. Fac. Sci. Toulouse, Math. (6) 21, No. 1, 25--55 (2012; Zbl 1239.57011)]. For positive achirality, they show that it is visible for prime alternating arborescent knots. More precisely, for some projection (not necessarily minimal), there exists a diffeomorphism of the projection sphere of order 4 realizing the positive achirality. A knot \(K\) is said to be positive achiral if there exists a homeomorphism of the \(3\)-sphere \(S^3\) sending \(K\) to itself which reverses the orientation of \(S^3\) but preserves the orientation of \(K\). The fundamental tool is the Menasco-Thistlethwaite Flyping Theorem. For the general case, the authors show that if a prime alternating knot has no minimal projection on which positive achirality is visible, then the order of positive achirality is equal to 4. The article is long but written with the intention of being self-contained.