The Alexander polynomial for virtual twist knots

Abstract

We define a family of virtual knots generalizing the classical twist knots. We develop a recursive formula for the Alexander polynomial [Formula: see text] (as defined by Silver and Williams [Polynomial invariants of virtual links, J. Knot Theory Ramifications 12 (2003) 987–1000]) of these virtual twist knots. These results are applied to provide evidence for a conjecture that the odd writhe of a virtual knot can be obtained from [Formula: see text].