Triple crossing number and double crossing braid index

Abstract

Traditionally, knot theorists have considered projections of knots where there are two strands meeting at every crossing. A triple crossing is a crossing where three strands meet at a single point, such that each strand bisects the crossing. In this paper we find a relationship between the triple crossing number and the double crossing braid index for unoriented links, namely [Formula: see text]. This yields a new method for determining braid indices. We find an infinite family of knots that achieve equality, which allows us to determine both the double crossing braid index and the triple crossing number of these knots.