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1,400
Möbius invariance of knot energy
math.GT
A physically natural potential energy for simple closed curves in $\bold R^3$ is shown to be invariant under M\"obius transformations. This leads to the rapid resolution of several open problems: round circles are precisely the absolute minima for energy; there is a minimum energy threshold below which knotting cannot ...
math
1,401
New points of view in knot theory
math.GT
In this article we shall give an account of certain developments in knot theory which followed upon the discovery of the Jones polynomial in 1984. The focus of our account will be recent glimmerings of understanding of the topological meaning of the new invariants. A second theme will be the central role that braid the...
math
1,402
Topology of homology manifolds
math.GT
We construct examples of nonresolvable generalized $n$-manifolds, $n\geq 6$, with arbitrary resolution obstruction, homotopy equivalent to any simply connected, closed $n$-manifold. We further investigate the structure of generalized manifolds and present a program for understanding their topology.
math
1,403
Quasipositivity as an obstruction to sliceness
math.GT
For an oriented link $L \subset S^3 = \Bd\!D^4$, let $\chi_s(L)$ be the greatest Euler characteristic $\chi(F)$ of an oriented 2-manifold $F$ (without closed components) smoothly embedded in $D^4$ with boundary $L$. A knot $K$ is {\it slice} if $\chi_s(K)=1$. Realize $D^4$ in $\C^2$ as $\{(z,w):|z|^2+|w|^2\le1\}$. It h...
math
1,404
Alexander's and Markov's theorems in dimension four
math.GT
Alexander's and Markov's theorems state that any link type in $R^3$ is represented by a closed braid and that such representations are related by some elementary operations called Markov moves. We generalize the notion of a braid to that in 4-dimensional space and establish an analogue of these theorems.
math
1,405
Extremal length estimates and product regions in Teichmüller space
math.GT
We study the Teichm\"uller metric on the Teichm\"uller space of a surface of finite type, in regions where the injectivity radius of the surface is small. The main result is that in such regions the Teichm\"uller metric is approximated up to bounded additive distortion by the sup metric on a product of lower dimensiona...
math
1,406
A User's Guide to the Mapping Class Group: Once Punctured Surfaces
math.GT
This document is a practical guide to computations using an automatic structure for the mapping class group of a once-punctured, oriented surface $S$. We describe a quadratic time algorithm for the word problem in this group, which can be implemented efficiently with pencil and paper. The input of the algorithm is a wo...
math
1,407
Exceptional surgery on knots
math.GT
Let $M$ be an irreducible, compact, connected, orientable 3-manifold whose boundary is a torus. We show that if $M$ is hyperbolic, then it admits at most six finite/cyclic fillings of maximal distance 5. Further, the distance of a finite/cyclic filling to a cyclic filling is at most 2. If $M$ has a non-boundary-paralle...
math
1,408
On the geometric and topological rigidity of hyperbolic 3-manifolds
math.GT
A homotopy equivalence between a hyperbolic 3-manifold and a closed irreducible 3-manifold is homotopic to a homeomorphsim provided the hyperbolic manifold satisfies a purely geometric condition. There are no known examples of hyperbolic 3-manifolds which do not satisfy this condition.
math
1,409
The Structure and Enumeration of Link Projections
math.GT
We define a decomposition of link projections whose pieces we call atoroidal graphs. We describe a surgery operation on these graphs and show that all atoroidal graphs can be generated by performing surgery repeatedly on a family of well known link projections. This gives a method of enumerating atoroidal graphs and he...
math
1,410
Bounds on Volume Increase under Dehn Drilling Operations
math.GT
In this paper we investigate how the volume of hyperbolic manifolds increases under the process of removing a curve, that is, Dehn drilling. If the curve we remove is a geodesic we are able to show that for a certain family of manifolds the volume increase is bounded above by $\pi \cdot l$ where $l$ is the length of th...
math
1,411
Floer homologies for Lagrangian intersections and instantons
math.GT
In 1985 lectures at MSRI, A. Casson introduced an interesting integer valued invariant for any oriented integral homology 3-sphere Y via beautiful constructions on representation spaces (see [1] for an exposition). The Casson invariant \lambda(Y) is roughly defined by measuring the oriented number of irreducible repres...
math
1,412
Quasigeodesic Flows in Hyperbolic Three-Manifolds
math.GT
Any closed, oriented, hyperbolic three-manifold with nontrivial second homology has many quasigeodesic flows, where quasigeodesic means that flow lines are uniformly efficient in measuring distance in relative homotopy classes. The flows are pseudo-Anosov flows which are almost transverse to finite depth foliations in ...
math
1,413
End sums of irreducible open 3-manifolds
math.GT
An end sum is a non-compact analogue of a connected sum. Suppose we are given two connected, oriented $n$-manifolds $M_1$ and $M_2$. Recall that to form their connected sum one chooses an $n$-ball in each $M_i$, removes its interior, and then glues together the two $S^{n-1}$ boundary components thus created by an orien...
math
1,414
Attaching boundary planes to irreducible open 3-manifolds
math.GT
Given any connected, open 3-manifold $U$ having finitely many ends, a non-compact 3-manifold $M$ is constructed having the following properties: the interior of $M$ is homeomorphic to $U$; the boundary of $M$ is the disjoint union of finitely many planes; $M$ is not almost compact; $M$ is eventually end-irreducible; th...
math
1,415
Contractible open 3-manifolds which non-trivially cover only non-compact 3-manifolds
math.GT
Suppose $M$ is a closed, connected, orientable, \irr\ \3m\ such that $G=\pi_1(M)$ is infinite. One consequence of Thurston's geometrization conjecture is that the universal covering space $\widetilde{M}$ of $M$ must be \homeo\ to $\RRR$. This has been verified directly under several different additional assumptions on ...
math
1,416
On the homology cobordism group of homology 3-spheres
math.GT
In this paper we present our results on the homology cobordism group $\Th$ of the oriented integral homology 3-spheres. We specially emphasize the role played in the subject by the gauge theory including Floer homology and invariants by Donaldson and Seiberg -- Witten.
math
1,417
Homotopy Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds are Hyperbolic
math.GT
This paper introduces a rigorous computer-assisted procedure for analyzing hyperbolic 3-manifolds. This technique is used to complete the proof of several long-standing rigidity conjectures in 3-manifold theory as well as to provide a new lower bound for the volume of a closed orientable hyperbolic 3-manifold. We pro...
math
1,418
A Standard Form for Incompressible Surfaces in a Handlebody
math.GT
Let $\F$ be a compact surface and let $I$ be the unit interval. This paper gives a standard form for all 2-sided incompressible surfaces in the 3-manifold $\F \times I$. Since $\F \times I$ is a handlebody when $\F$ has boundary, this standard form applies to incompressible surfaces in a handlebody.
math
1,419
Cannon-Thurston Maps for Trees of Hyperbolic Metric Spaces
math.GT
Let (X,d) be a tree (T) of hyperbolic metric spaces satisfying the quasi-isometrically embedded condition. Let $v$ be a vertex of $T$. Let $({X_v},d_v)$ denote the hyperbolic metric space corresponding to $v$. Then $i : X_v \rightarrow X$ extends continuously to a map $\hat{i} : \widehat{X_v} \rightarrow \widehat{X}$. ...
math
1,420
Homeomorphisms of 3-manifolds and the realization of Nielsen Number
math.GT
The Nielsen Conjecture for Homeomorphisms asserts that any homeomorphism $f$ of a closed manifold is isotopic to a map realizing the Nielsen number of $f$, which is a lower bound for the number of fixed points among all maps homotopic to $f$. The main theorem of this paper proves this conjecture for all orientation pre...
math
1,421
Contractible open 3-manifolds with free covering translation groups
math.GT
This paper concerns the class of contractible open 3-manifolds which are ``locally finite strong end sums'' of eventually end-irreducible Whitehead manifolds. It is shown that whenever a 3-manifold in this class is a covering space of another 3-manifold the group of covering translations must be a free group. It follow...
math
1,422
R^2-irreducible universal covering spaces of P^2-irreducible open 3-manifolds
math.GT
An irreducible open 3-manifold $W$ is {\bf R}$^2$-irreducible if every proper plane in $W$ splits off a halfspace. In this paper it is shown that if such a $W$ is the universal cover of a connected, {\bf P}$^2$-irreducible open 3-manifold $M$ with finitely generated fundamental group, then either $W$ is homeomorphic to...
math
1,423
Maximal Nilpotent Quotients of 3-Manifold Groups
math.GT
We show that if the lower central series of the fundamental group of a closed oriented $3$-manifold stabilizes then the maximal nilpotent quotient is a cyclic group, a quaternion $2$-group cross an odd order cyclic group, or a Heisenberg group. These groups are well known to be precisely the nilpotent fundamental group...
math
1,424
Floer homology of Brieskorn homology spheres: solution to Atiyah's problem
math.GT
In this paper we answer the question posed by M.~Atiyah and give an explicit formula for Floer homology of Brieskorn homology spheres in terms of their branching sets over the 3--sphere. We further show how Floer homology is related to other invariants of knots and 3--manifolds, among which are the $\bar\mu$--invariant...
math
1,425
On two-generator satellite knots
math.GT
Techniques are introduced which determine the geometric structure of non-simple two-generator $3$-manifolds from purely algebraic data. As an application, the satellite knots in the $3$-sphere with a two-generator presentation in which at least one generator is represented by a meridian for the knot are classified.
math
1,426
On a computer recognition of 3-manifolds
math.GT
We describe theoretical backgrounds for a computer program that recognizes all closed orientable 3-manifolds up to complexity 8. The program can treat also not necessarily closed 3-manifolds of bigger complexities, but here some unrecognizable (by the program) 3-manifolds may occur.
math
1,427
Dehn surgery on arboresent knots and links -- a survey
math.GT
This article is solicited by C.\ Adams for a special issue of {\it Chaos, Solitons and Fractals\/} devoted to knot theory and its applications. We present some recent results about Dehn surgeries on arborescent knots and links.
math
1,428
Non-integral toroidal surgery on hyperbolic knots in $S^3$
math.GT
We show that on any hyperbolic knot in $S^3$ there is at most one non-integral Dehn surgery which yields a manifold containing an incompressible torus.
math
1,429
Combinatorial methods in Dehn surgery
math.GT
This is an expository paper, in which we give a summary of some of the joint work of John Luecke and the author on Dehn surgery. We consider the situation where we have two Dehn fillings $M(\alpha)$ and $M(\beta)$ on a given 3-manifold $M$, each containing a surface that is either essential or a Heegaard surface. We sh...
math
1,430
Sutured manifold hierarchies, essential laminations, and Dehn surgery
math.GT
We use sutured manifold theory, essential laminations and essential branched surfaces to establish the upper bounds of distances between certain types of nonsimple Dehn surgery slopes. This is the revised version of an earlier preprint {\it Dehn surgery and simple manifolds.}
math
1,431
Finite-volume hyperbolic 4-manifolds that share a fundamental polyhedron
math.GT
It is known that the volume function for hyperbolic manifolds of dimension $\geq 3$ is finite-to-one. We show that the number of nonhomeomorphic hyperbolic 4-manifolds with the same volume can be made arbitrarily large. This is done by constructing a sequence of finite-sided finite-volume polyhedra with side-pairings t...
math
1,432
Spin^c structures and homotopy equivalences
math.GT
We show that a homotopy equivalence between manifolds induces a correspondence between their spin^c-structures, even in the presence of 2-torsion. This is proved by generalizing spin^c-structures to Poincare complexes. A procedure is given for explicitly computing the correspondence under reasonable hypotheses.
math
1,433
Toroidal and annular Dehn fillings
math.GT
Suppose $M$ is a hyperbolic 3-manifold which admits two Dehn fillings $M(r_1)$ and $M(r_2)$ such that $M(r_1)$ contains an essential torus and $M(r_2)$ contains an essential annulus. It is known that $\Delta = \Delta(r_1, r_2) \leq 5$. We will show that if $\Delta = 5$ then $M$ is the Whitehead sister link exterior, an...
math
1,434
Alexander duality, gropes and link homotopy
math.GT
We prove a geometric refinement of Alexander duality for certain 2-complexes, the so-called gropes, embedded into 4-space. This refinement can be roughly formulated as saying that 4-dimensional Alexander duality preserves the disjoint Dwyer filtration. In addition, we give new proofs and extended versions of two lemmas...
math
1,435
Compactifying sufficiently regular covering spaces of compact 3-manifolds
math.GT
In this paper it is proven that if the group of covering translations of the covering space of a compact, connected, $P^2$-irreducible 3-manifold corresponding to a non-trivial, finitely-generated subgroup of its fundamental group is infinite, then either the covering space is almost compact or the subgroup is infinite...
math
1,436
Extension of incompressible surfaces on the boundary of 3-manifolds
math.GT
An incompressible surface $F$ on the boundary of a compact orientable 3-manifold $M$ is arc-extendible if there is an arc $\gamma$ on $\partial M - $ Int $F$ such that $F \cup N(\gamma)$ is incompressible, where $N(\gamma)$ is a regular neighborhood of $\gamma$ in $\partial M$. Suppose for simplicity that $M$ is irredu...
math
1,437
Algorithmic aspects of homeomorphism problems
math.GT
We will describe some results regarding the algorithmic nature of homeomorphism problems for manifolds; in particular, the following theorem. Theorem 1: Every PL or smooth simply connected manifold M^n of dimension n at least 5 can be recognized among simply connected manifolds. That is, there is an algorithm to deci...
math
1,438
Nonhyperbolic Dehn fillings on hyperbolic 3-manifolds
math.GT
We give three infinite families of examples of nonhyperbolic Dehn fillings on hyperbolic manifolds. A manifold in the first family admits two Dehn fillings of distance two apart, one of which is toroidal and annular, and the other is reducible and $\partial$-reducible. A manifold in the second family has boundary consi...
math
1,439
Manifolds not containing Gompf nuclei
math.GT
In this note we show that there are 4-manifolds not containing Gompf nucleus $N_2$; in this way we answer Problem 4.98 of Kirby's problem list in the negative.
math
1,440
Quadrisecants of knots and links
math.GT
We show that every non-trivial tame knot or link in R^3 has a quadrisecant, i.e. four collinear points. The quadrisecant must be topologically non-trivial in a precise sense. As an application, we show that a nonsingular, algebraic surface in R^3 which is a knotted torus must have degree at least eight.
math
1,441
Real trees in topology, geometry, and group theory
math.GT
This is a survey of the theory of real trees and their applications.
math
1,442
A new approach to the word and conjugacy problems in the braid groups
math.GT
A new presentation of the $n$-string braid group $B_n$ is studied. Using it, a new solution to the word problem in $B_n$ is obtained which retains most of the desirable features of the Garside-Thurston solution, and at the same time makes possible certain computational improvements. We also give a related solution to t...
math
1,443
Equivariant configuration spaces
math.GT
We use the compression theorem (arxiv:math.GT/9712235) cf section 7, to prove results for equivariant configuration spaces analogous to the well-known non-equivariant results of May, Milgram and Segal.
math
1,444
The Tits alternative for Out(F_n) I: Dynamics of exponentially-growing automorphisms
math.GT
The Tits alternative for Out(F_n) is reduced to the case where all elements in the subgroup under consideration grow polynomially.
math
1,445
The Tits Alternative for $Out(F_n)$ II: A Kolchin Type Theorem
math.GT
The proof of the Tits alternative for $Out(F_n)$ is completed. The main tool is a Kolchin type theorem, proved in this paper. It states that a finitely generated subgroup of $Out(F_n)$ consisting of unipotent automorphisms can be conjugated into an upper-triangular subgroup (this is interpreted via train-tracks).
math
1,446
Solvable subgroups of Out(F_n) are virtually abelian
math.GT
A companion result of the the Tits alternative for $Out(F_n)$ is proved: Every solvable subgroup of $Out(F_n)$ is finitely generated and virtually abelian.
math
1,447
3-manifolds as viewed from the curve complex
math.GT
A Heegaard diagram for a 3-manifold is regarded as a pair of simplexes in the complex of curves on a surface and a Heegaard splitting as a pair of subcomplexes generated by the equivalent diagrams. We relate geometric and combinatorial properties of these subcomplexes with topological properties of the manifold and/or ...
math
1,448
Pure braids, a new subgroup of the mapping class group and finite type invariants
math.GT
In the study of the relation between the mapping class group M of a surface and the theory of finite-type invariants of homology 3-spheres, three subgroups of the mapping class group play a large role. They are the Torelli group, the Johnson subgroup K and a new subgroup L, which contains K, defined by a choice of a La...
math
1,449
Bloch invariants of hyperbolic 3-manifolds
math.GT
We define an invariant \beta(M) of a finite volume hyperbolic 3-manifold M in the Bloch group B(C) and show it is determined by the simplex parameters of any degree one ideal triangulation of M. \beta(M) lies in a subgroup of \B(\C) of finite \Q-rank determined by the invariant trace field of M. Moreover, the Chern-Sim...
math
1,450
Rationality problems for Chern-Simons invariants
math.GT
This paper makes certain observations regarding some conjectures of Milnor and Ramakrishnan in hyperbolic geometry and algebraic K-theory. As a consequence of our observations, we obtain new results and conjectures regarding the rationality and irrationality of Chern-Simons invariants of hyperbolic 3-manifolds.
math
1,451
Hilbert's 3rd Problem and invariants of 3-manifolds
math.GT
This paper is an expansion of my lecture for David Epstein's birthday, which traced a logical progression from ideas of Euclid on subdividing polygons to some recent research on invariants of hyperbolic 3-manifolds. This `logical progression' makes a good story but distorts history a bit: the ultimate aims of the chara...
math
1,452
Canonical decompositions of 3-manifolds
math.GT
We describe a new approach to the canonical decompositions of 3-manifolds along tori and annuli due to Jaco-Shalen and Johannson (with ideas from Waldhausen) - the so-called JSJ-decomposition theorem. This approach gives an accessible proof of the decomposition theorem; in particular it does not use the annulus-torus t...
math
1,453
Kleinian Groups Generated by Rotations
math.GT
We discuss which Kleinian groups are commensurable with Kleinian groups generated by rotations, with particular emphasis on Kleinian groups that arise from Dehn surgery on a knot.
math
1,454
Akbulut's corks and h-cobordisms of smooth simply connected 4-manifolds
math.GT
This is primarily an exposition, combining work of several authors (Curtis, Hsiang, Freedman, Stong, Matveyev, and Bizaca), of the proof that a smooth 5-dimensional h-cobordism between simply connected 4-manifolds is a product off of a contractible piece which itself is diffeomorphic to the 5-ball.
math
1,455
The Generalized Smale Conjecture for 3-manifolds with genus 2 one-sided Heegaard splittings
math.GT
The Generalized Smale Conjecture asserts that if M is a closed 3-manifold with constant positive curvature, then the inclusion of the group of isometries into the group of diffeomorphisms is a homotopy equivalence. For the 3-sphere, this was the classical Smale Conjecture proved by A. Hatcher. N. Ivanov proved the Gene...
math
1,456
The compression theorem I
math.GT
This the first of a set of three papers about the Compression Theorem: if M^m is embedded in Q^q X R with a normal vector field and if q-m > 0, then the given vector field can be straightened (ie, made parallel to the given R direction) by an isotopy of M and normal field in Q X R. The theorem can be deduced from Gromo...
math
1,457
Ubiquity of geometric finiteness in mapping class groups of Haken 3-manifolds
math.GT
Mapping class groups of Haken 3-manifolds enjoy many of the homological finiteness properties of mapping class groups of 2-manifolds of finite type. For example, H(M) has a torsionfree subgroup of finite index, which is geometrically finite (i. e. is the fundamental group of a finite aspherical complex). This was prove...
math
1,458
Scharlemann's manifold is standard
math.GT
In his 1974 thesis, Martin Scharlemann constructed a fake homotopy equivalence from a closed smooth manifold f:Q -> S^3 x S^1 # S^2 x S^2 and asked whether the manifold Q itself is diffeomorphic to S^3 x S^1 # S^2 x S^2. Here we answer this question affirmatively.
math
1,459
Finiteness of classifying spaces of relative diffeomorphism groups of 3-manifolds
math.GT
The main theorem shows that if M is an irreducible compact connected orientable 3-manifold with non-empty boundary, then the classifying space BDiff(M rel dM) of the space of diffeomorphisms of M which restrict to the identity map on boundary(M) has the homotopy type of a finite aspherical CW-complex. This answers, for...
math
1,460
Genus two Heegaard splittings of orientable three-manifolds
math.GT
It was shown by Bonahon-Otal and Hodgson-Rubinstein that any two genus-one Heegaard splittings of the same 3-manifold (typically a lens space) are isotopic. On the other hand, it was shown by Boileau, Collins and Zieschang that certain Seifert manifolds have distinct genus-two Heegaard splittings. In an earlier paper, ...
math
1,461
Algorithms for recognizing knots and 3-manifolds
math.GT
This is a survey paper on algorithms for solving problems in 3-dimensional topology. In particular, it discusses Haken's approach to the recognition of the unknot, and recent variations.
math
1,462
Higher p invariants
math.GT
The rho-invariant is an invariant of odd-dimensional manifolds with finite fundamental group, and lies in the representations modulo the regular representations (after tensoring with Q). It is a fundamental invariant that occurs in classifying lens spaces, their homotopy analogues, and is intimately related to the eta-...
math
1,463
An invariant of smooth 4-manifolds
math.GT
We define a diffeomorphism invariant of smooth 4-manifolds which we can estimate for many smoothings of R^4 and other smooth 4-manifolds. Using this invariant we can show that uncountably many smoothings of R^4 support no Stein structure. (Gompf has constructed uncountably many smoothings of R^4 which do support Stein ...
math
1,464
A Geometric Characteristic Splitting in all Dimensions
math.GT
We prove the existence of a geometric characteristic submanifold for non-positively curved manifolds of any dimension greater than or equal to three. In dimension three, our result is a geometric version of the topological characteristic submanifold theorem due to Jaco, Shalen and Johannson.
math
1,465
Simple Loops on Surfaces and Their Intersection Numbers
math.GT
Given a compact orientable surface $\Sigma$, let $\Cal S(\Sigma)$ be the set of isotopy classes of essential simple loops on $\Sigma$. We determine a complete set of relations for a function from $\Cal S(\Sigma)$ to $\bold Z$ to be a geometric intersection number function. As a consequence, we obtain explicit equations...
math
1,466
Hyperbolic Structures on 3-manifolds, I: Deformation of acylindrical manifolds
math.GT
This is the first in a series of papers showing that Haken manifolds have hyperbolic structures; this first was published, the second two have existed only in preprint form, and later preprints were never completed. This eprint is only an approximation to the published version, which is the definitive form for part I, ...
math
1,467
Geodesic Length Functions and Teichmüller Spaces
math.GT
Given a compact orientable surface with finitely many punctures $\Sigma$, let $\Cal S(\Sigma)$ be the set of isotopy classes of essential unoriented simple closed curves in $\Sigma$. We determine a complete set of relations for a function from $\Cal S(\Sigma)$ to $\bold R$ to be the geodesic length function of a hyperb...
math
1,468
A Presentation of the Mapping Class Groups
math.GT
Using the works of Gervais, Harer, Hatcher and Thurston and others, we show that the mapping class group of a compact orientable surface has a presentation so that the generators are the set of all Dehn twists and the relations are supported in subsurfaces homeomorphic to the one-holed torus or the four-holed sphere. I...
math
1,469
The Burau matrix and Fiedler's invariant for a closed braid
math.GT
It is shown how Fiedler's `small state-sum' invariant for a braid can be calculated from the 2-variable Alexander polynomial of the link which consists of the closed braid together with the braid axis.
math
1,470
Examples of non-trivial roots of unity at ideal points of hyperbolic 3-manifolds
math.GT
This paper gives examples of hyperbolic 3-manifolds whose SL(2,C) character varieties have ideal points whose associated roots of unity are not 1 or -1. This answers a question of Cooper, Culler, Gillet, Long, and Shalen as to whether roots of unity other than 1 and -1 occur.
math
1,471
Shapes of polyhedra and triangulations of the sphere
math.GT
The space of shapes of a polyhedron with given total angles less than 2\pi at each of its n vertices has a Kaehler metric, locally isometric to complex hyperbolic space CH^{n-3}. The metric is not complete: collisions between vertices take place a finite distance from a nonsingular point. The metric completion is a com...
math
1,472
Toroidal and Boundary-Reducing Dehn Fillings
math.GT
Let M be a simple 3-manifold with a toral boundary component partial_0 M. If Dehn filling M along partial_0 M one way produces a toroidal manifold and Dehn filling M along partial_0 M another way produces a boundary-reducible manifold, then we show that the absolute value of the intersection number on partial_0 M of th...
math
1,473
A new algorithm for recognizing the unknot
math.GT
The topological underpinnings are presented for a new algorithm which answers the question: `Is a given knot the unknot?' The algorithm uses the braid foliation technology of Bennequin and of Birman and Menasco. The approach is to consider the knot as a closed braid, and to use the fact that a knot is unknotted if and ...
math
1,474
Fiber-preserving diffeomorphisms and imbeddings
math.GT
Around 1960, R. Palais and J. Cerf proved a fundamental result relating spaces of diffeomorphisms and imbeddings of manifolds: If V is a submanifold of M, then the map from Diff(M) to Imb(V,M) that takes f to its restriction to V is locally trivial. We extend this and related results into the context of fibered manifol...
math
1,475
Cyclic surgery, degrees of maps of character curves, and volume rigidity for hyperbolic manifolds
math.GT
This paper proves a theorem about Dehn surgery using a new theorem about PSL(2, C) character varieties. Confirming a conjecture of Boyer and Zhang, this paper shows that a small hyperbolic knot in a homotopy sphere having a non-trivial cyclic slope r has an incompressible surface with non-integer boundary slope strictl...
math
1,476
The symplectic Floer homology of composite knots
math.GT
We develop a method of calculation for the symplectic Floer homology of composite knots. The symplectic Floer homology of knots defined in \cite{li} naturally admits an integer graded lifting, and it formulates a filtration and induced spectral sequence. Such a spectral sequence converges to the symplectic homology of ...
math
1,477
Integral Invariants of 3-Manifolds. II
math.GT
This note is a sequel to our earlier paper of the same title [dg-ga/9710001] and describes invariants of rational homology 3-spheres associated to acyclic orthogonal local systems. Our work is in the spirit of the Axelrod-Singer papers, generalizes some of their results, and furnishes a new setting for the purely topol...
math
1,478
Obstructing 4-torsion in the classical knot concordance group
math.GT
We prove that if the order of the first homology of the 2-fold branched cover of a knot K in the 3-sphere is given by pm where p is a prime congruent to 3 mod 4 and gcd(p,m) =1, then K is of infinite order in the knot concordance group. This provides an obstruction to classical knots being of order 4. In particular, th...
math
1,479
Comparing Heegaard and JSJ structures of orientable 3-manifolds
math.GT
The Heegaard genus g of an irreducible closed orientable 3-manifold puts a limit on the number and complexity of the pieces that arise in the Jaco-Shalen-Johannson decomposition of the manifold by its canonical tori. For example, if p of the complementary components are not Seifert fibered, then p < g. This result gene...
math
1,480
Foliation-preserving Maps Between Solvmanifolds
math.GT
For i = 1,2, let Gamma_i be a lattice in a simply connected, solvable Lie group G_i, and let X_i be a connected Lie subgroup of G_i. The double cosets Gamma_igX_i provide a foliation F_i of the homogeneous space Gamma_i\G_i. Let f be a continuous map from Gamma_1\G_1 to Gamma_2\G_2 whose restriction to each leaf of F_1...
math
1,481
3-Manifolds with irreducible Heegaard splittings of high genus
math.GT
Non-isotopic Heegaard splittings of non-minimal genus were known previously only for very special 3-manifolds. We show in this paper that they are in fact a wide spread phenomenon in 3-manifold theory: We exhibit a large class of knots and manifolds obtained by Dehn surgery on these knots which admit such splittings. M...
math
1,482
Gauss sums on almost positive knots
math.GT
Using the Fiedler-Polyak-Viro Gauss diagram formulas we study the Vassiliev invariants of degree 2 and 3 on almost positive knots. As a consequence we show that the number of almost positive knots of given genus or unknotting number grows polynomially in the crossing number, and also recover and extend, inter alia to t...
math
1,483
Generic immersions of curves, knots, monodromy and gordian number
math.GT
Starting from a divide, i.e. a generic immersion of finitely many copies of the interval [0,1] in the disk, we construct a classical link in the 3-sphere. We prove that the link's complement fibers over the circle, if the divide is connected. Moreover, we compute the monodromy diffeomorphism from the combinatorics of t...
math
1,484
A survey of 4-manifolds through the eyes of surgery
math.GT
The title says it all.
math
1,485
Foliations Transverse to Triangulations of 3-Manifolds
math.GT
We investigate the combinatorial analogues, in the context of normal surfaces, of taut and transversely measured (codimension 1) foliations of 3-manifolds. We establish that the existence of certain combinatorial structures, a priori weaker than the existence of the corresponding foliation, is sufficient to guarantee t...
math
1,486
Pseudo-Anosov maps and simple closed curves on surfaces
math.GT
Given a pair of curves C_1 and C_2 on a hyperbolic surface F, when does there exist a pseudo-Anosov map sending one to another? More generally, one may ask the same question for C_i to be sets of disjoint simple closed curves. We will give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of such maps.
math
1,487
The Multivariable Alexander Polynomial for a Closed Braid
math.GT
A simple multivariable version of the reduced Burau matrix is constructed for any braid. It is shown how the multivariable Alexander polynomial for the closure of the braid can be found directly from this matrix.
math
1,488
The structure of a solvmanifold's Heegaard splittings
math.GT
We classify isotopy classes of irreducible Heegaard splittings of solvmanifolds. If the monodromy of the solvmanifold can be expressed as a 2 x 2 matrix with 0 in the lower right hand corner (as always is true when the absolute value of the trace is 3), then any irreducible splitting is strongly irreducible and of genu...
math
1,489
A natural framing of knots
math.GT
Given a knot K in the 3-sphere, consider a singular disk bounded by K and the intersections of K with the interior of the disk. The absolute number of intersections, minimised over all choices of singular disk with a given algebraic number of intersections, defines the framing function of the knot. We show that the fra...
math
1,490
Positive links are strongly quasipositive
math.GT
Let S(D) be the surface produced by applying Seifert's algorithm to the oriented link diagram D. I prove that if D has no negative crossings then S(D) is a quasipositive Seifert surface, that is, S(D) embeds incompressibly on a fiber surface plumbed from positive Hopf annuli. This result, combined with the truth of the...
math
1,491
Braided chord diagrams
math.GT
The notion of a braided chord diagram is introduced and studied. An equivalence relation is given which identifies all braidings of a fixed chord diagram. It is shown that finite-type invariants are stratified by braid index for knots which can be represented as closed 3-braids. Partial results are obtained about spann...
math
1,492
Studying surfaces via closed braids
math.GT
This is a review article on the Bennequin-Birman-Menasco machinery for studying embedded incompressible surfaces in 3-space via their `braid foliations'. Two cases are investigated: case (1) The surface has non-empty boundary; the boundary is a knot or link which is represented as a closed braid, Case (2) The surface i...
math
1,493
Milnor and finite type invariants of plat-closures
math.GT
We show that for an $n$-component, $n$-bridge link and a positive integer $m$, the following is true: If the longitudes of $L$ lie in the $(m+2)$-th term of the lower central series of the link group then all the finite type invariants of orders $\leq m$ for $L$ are the same as these of the $n$-component unlink.
math
1,494
Regular Seifert surfaces and Vassiliev knot invariants
math.GT
We show that the Vassiliev invariants of orders $\leq n$ of a knot K, are obstructions to finding a regular Seifert surface, S, whose complement looks "simple" (e.g. like the complement of a disc) to the lower central series of its fundamental group. As a consequence of this, we obtain that the Vassiliev invariants of ...
math
1,495
Canonical decomposition of manifolds with flat real projective structure into (n-1)-convex manifolds and concave affine manifolds
math.GT
We try to understand the geometric properties of $n$-manifolds ($n\geq 2$) with geometric structures modeled on $(\bR P^n, \PGL(n+1, \bR))$, i.e., $n$-manifolds with projectively flat torsion free affine connections. We define the notion of $i$-convexity of such manifolds due to Carri\'ere for integers $i$, $1 \leq i \...
math
1,496
Finite type invariants of 3-manifolds
math.GT
A theory of finite type invariants for arbitrary compact oriented 3-manifolds is proposed, and illustrated through many examples arising from both classical and quantum topology. The theory is seen to be highly non-trivial even for manifolds with large first betti number, encompassing much of the complexity of Ohtsuki'...
math
1,497
The homology of abelian coverings of knotted graphs
math.GT
Let N be a regular branched cover of a homology 3-sphere M with deck group G isomorphic to Z_2^d and branch set a trivalent graph Gamma; such a cover is determined by a coloring of the edges of Gamma with elements of G. For each index-2 subgroup H of G, M_H = N/H is a double branched cover of M. Sakuma has proved that ...
math
1,498
Geometrization of 3-orbifolds of cyclic type
math.GT
We give a complete proof of Thurston's Orbifold Theorem for very good 3-orbifolds of cyclic type. An orbifold is said to be very good when it has a finite cover which is a manifold. A 3-orbifold is of cyclic type if the singular set is a non-empty 1-manifold transverse to the boundary.
math
1,499
Positive knots, closed braids and the Jones polynomial
math.GT
Using the recent Gauss diagram formulas for Vassiliev invariants of Polyak-Viro-Fiedler and combining these formulas with the Bennequin inequality, we prove several inequalities for positive knots relating their Vassiliev invariants, genus and degrees of the Jones polynomial. As a consequence, we prove that for any of ...
math