Seifert Surface Research Articles

Virtual Seifert surfaces

A virtual knot that has a homologically trivial representative [Formula: see text] in a thickened surface [Formula: see text] is said to be an almost classical (AC) knot. [Formula: see text] then bounds a Seifert surface [Formula: see text]. Seifert surfaces of AC knots are useful for computing concordance invariants and slice obstructions. However, Seifert surfaces in [Formula: see text] are difficult to construct. Here, we introduce virtual Seifert surfaces of AC knots. These are planar figures representing [Formula: see text]. An algorithm for constructing a virtual Seifert surface from a Gauss diagram is given. This is applied to computing signatures and Alexander polynomials of AC knots. A canonical genus of AC knots is also studied. It is shown to be distinct from the virtual canonical genus of Stoimenow–Tchernov–Vdovina.

Knotted non-Hermitian metals

We report on the occurrence of knotted metallic band structures as stable topological phases in non-Hermitian (NH) systems. These knotted NH metals are characterized by open Fermi surfaces, known in mathematics as Seifert surfaces, that are bounded by knotted lines of exceptional points. Quite remarkably, and in contrast to the situation in Hermitian systems, no fine tuning or symmetries are required in order to stabilize these exotic phases of matter. By explicit construction, we derive microscopic tight-binding models hosting knotted NH metals with strictly short-ranged hopping, and investigate the stability of their topological properties against perturbations. Building up on recently developed experimental techniques for the realization of NH band structures, we discuss how the proposed models may be experimentally implemented in photonic systems.

Quantum Computing, Seifert Surfaces, and Singular Fibers

The fundamental group π 1 ( L ) of a knot or link L may be used to generate magic states appropriate for performing universal quantum computation and simultaneously for retrieving complete information about the processed quantum states. In this paper, one defines braids whose closure is the L of such a quantum computer model and computes their braid-induced Seifert surfaces and the corresponding Alexander polynomial. In particular, some d-fold coverings of the trefoil knot, with d = 3 , 4, 6, or 12, define appropriate links L, and the latter two cases connect to the Dynkin diagrams of E 6 and D 4 , respectively. In this new context, one finds that this correspondence continues with Kodaira’s classification of elliptic singular fibers. The Seifert fibered toroidal manifold Σ ′ , at the boundary of the singular fiber E 8 ˜ , allows possible models of quantum computing.

Hopf bands in arborescent Hopf plumbings

For a positive Hopf plumbed arborescent Seifert surface $S$, we study the set of Hopf bands $H\subset S$, up to homology and up to the action of the monodromy. The classification of Seifert surfaces for which this set is finite is closely related to the classification of finite Coxeter groups.

Concordance of Seifert surfaces

This paper proves that every oriented non-disk Seifert surface $F$ for a knot $K$ in $S^3$ is smoothly concordant to a Seifert surface $F^{\prime}$ for a hyperbolic knot $K^{\prime}$ of arbitrarily large volume. This gives a new and simpler proof of the result of Friedl and of Kawauchi that every knot is $S$-equivalent to a hyperbolic knot of arbitrarily large volume. The construction also gives a new and simpler proof of the result of Silver and Whitten and of Kawauchi that for every knot $K$ there is a hyperbolic knot $K^{\prime}$ of arbitrarily large volume and a map of pairs $f:(S^3,K^{\prime})\rightarrow (S^3,K)$ which induces an epimorphism on the knot groups. An example is given which shows that knot Floer homology is not an invariant of Seifert surface concordance. The paper also proves that a set of finite volume hyperbolic 3-manifolds with unbounded Haken numbers has unbounded volumes.

Low complexity algorithms in knot theory

Agol, Haas and Thurston showed that the problem of determining a bound on the genus of a knot in a 3-manifold, is NP-complete. This shows that (unless P[Formula: see text]NP) the genus problem has high computational complexity even for knots in a 3-manifold. We initiate the study of classes of knots where the genus problem and even the equivalence problem have very low computational complexity. We show that the genus problem for alternating knots with n crossings has linear time complexity and is in Logspace[Formula: see text]. Alternating knots with some additional combinatorial structure will be referred to as standard. As expected, almost all alternating knots of a given genus are standard. We show that the genus problem for these knots belongs to [Formula: see text] circuit complexity class. We also show, that the equivalence problem for such knots with [Formula: see text] crossings has time complexity [Formula: see text] and is in Logspace[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] complexity classes.

Universal surgery problems with trivial Lagrangian

We study the effect of Nielsen moves and their geometric counterparts, handle slides, on good boundary links. A collection of links, universal for 4-dimensional surgery, is shown to admit Seifert surfaces with trivial Lagrangian. They are good boundary links, with Seifert matrices of a more general form than in known constructions of slice links. We show that a certain more restrictive condition on Seifert matrices is sufficient for proving the links are slice. We also give a correction of a Kirby calculus identity in \cite{FK2}, useful for constructing surgery kernels associated to link-slice problems.

Exceptional links and twisted Fermi ribbons in non-Hermitian systems

The generic nature of band touching points in three-dimensional band structures is at heart of the rich phenomenology, topological stability and novel Fermi arc surface states associated with Weyl semimetals. Here we report on the corresponding scenario emerging in systems effectively described by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Remarkably, three-dimensional non-Hermitian systems have generic band touchings along one-dimensional closed contours forming exceptional rings and links in reciprocal space. The associated Seifert surfaces support open "Fermi ribbons" where the real part of the energy gap vanishes, providing a novel class of higher-dimensional bulk generalisations of Fermi arcs which are characterised by an integer twist number. These results have possible applications to a plethora of physical settings ranging from mechanical systems and optical metamaterials with loss and gain to heavy fermion materials with finite-lifetime quasiparticles. In particular, photonic crystals provide fertile ground for simulating the exuberant phenomenology of exceptional links and their concomitant Fermi ribbons.

Reconstructing the topology of optical polarization knots

Knots are topological structures describing how a looped thread can be arranged in space. Although most familiar as knotted material filaments, it is also possible to create knots in singular structures within three-dimensional physical fields such as fluid vortices1 and the nulls of optical fields2–4. Here we produce, in the transverse polarization profile of optical beams, knotted lines of circular transverse polarization. We generate and observe both simple torus knots and links as well as the topologically more complicated figure-eight knot. The presence of these knotted polarization singularities endows a nontrivial topological structure on the entire three-dimensional propagating wavefield. In particular, the contours of constant polarization azimuth form Seifert surfaces of high genus5, which we are able to resolve experimentally in a process we call seifertometry. This analysis reveals a level of topological complexity, present in all experimentally generated polarization fields, that goes beyond the conventional reconstruction of polarization singularity lines. Knotted lines representing torus knot and figure-eight knot are produced in the polarization profile of optical beams, leading to a topological characterization of the structure of the polarization field.

Art by the Numbers.

The article profiles several works of art that use mathematical principles. Works noted including "Manchester Illuminated Universal Turing Machine, #23" by artist Roman Verostko, "Borromean Rings Seifert Surface" by artist Bathsheba Grossman, and "Buddhabrot" by computer programmer Melinda Green. Topics include the notion of a universal Turing machine (UTM), the use of non-Euclidean geometries, and the inspiration of artist Bjarne Jespersen by artist M. C. Escher.

Abelian Arithmetic Chern–Simons Theory and Arithmetic Linking Numbers

AbstractFollowing the method of Seifert surfaces in knot theory, we define arithmetic linking numbers and height pairings of ideals using arithmetic duality theorems, and compute them in terms of $n$-th power residue symbols. This formalism leads to a precise arithmetic analogue of a “path-integral formula” for linking numbers.

Detecting essential surfaces as intersections in the character variety

We describe a family of hyperbolic knots whose character variety contain exactly two distinct components of characters of irreducible representations. The intersection points between the components carry rich topological information. In particular, these points are non-integral and detect the Seifert surface.

Alternating links and definite surfaces

We establish a characterization of alternating links in terms of definite spanning surfaces. We apply it to obtain a new proof of Tait's conjecture that reduced alternating diagrams of the same link have the same crossing number and writhe. We also deduce a result of Banks and Hirasawa-Sakuma about Seifert surfaces for special alternating links. The appendix, written by Juh\'asz and Lackenby, applies the characterization to derive an exponential time algorithm for alternating knot recognition.

Some Conditionally Hard Problems on Links and 3-Manifolds

We show that three natural decision problems about links and 3-manifolds are computationally hard, assuming some conjectures in complexity theory. The first problem is determining whether a link in the 3-sphere bounds a Seifert surface with Thurston norm at most a given integer; this is shown to be NP-complete. The second problem is the homeomorphism problem for closed 3-manifolds; this is shown to be at least as hard as the graph isomorphism problem. The third problem is determining whether a given link in the 3-sphere is a sublink of another given link; this is shown to be NP-hard.

Dijkgraaf–Witten type invariants of Seifert surfaces in 3-manifolds

We introduce defects, with internal gauge symmetries, on a knot and Seifert surface to a knot into the combinatorial construction of finite gauge-group Dijkgraaf–Witten theory. The appropriate initial data for the construction are certain three object categories, with coefficients satisfying a partially degenerate cocycle condition.

Dehn surgery and Seifert surface systems

For a compact connected 3-submanifold with connected boundary in the 3-sphere, we relate the existence of a Seifert surface system with properties of Dehn surgeries along null-homologous links. As a corollary, we obtain a refinement of Fox’s re-embedding theorem, and show the existence of a Seifert surface system for any closed surface in the 3-sphere.

When do links admit homeomorphic C-complexes?

Any two knots admit orientation preserving homeomorphic Seifert surfaces, as can be seen by stabilizing. There is a generalization of a Seifert surface to the setting of links called a [Formula: see text]-complex. In this paper, we ask when two links will admit orientation preserving homeomorphic [Formula: see text]-complexes. In the case of 2-component links, we find that the pairwise linking number provides a complete obstruction. In the case of links with 3 or more components and zero pairwise linking number, Milnor’s triple linking number provides a complete obstruction.

Virtual knot groups and almost classical knots

We define a group-valued invariant of virtual knots and relate it to various other group-valued invariants of virtual knots, including the extended group of Silver-Williams and the quandle group of Manturov and Bardakov-Bellingeri. A virtual knot is called almost classical if it admits a diagram with an Alexander numbering, and in that case we show that the group factors as a free product of the usual knot group and Z. We establish a similar formula for mod p almost classical knots, and we use these results to derive obstructions to a virtual knot K being mod p almost classical. Viewed as knots in thickened surfaces, almost classical knots correspond to those that are homologically trivial. We show they admit Seifert surfaces and relate their Alexander invariants to the homology of the associated infinite cyclic cover. We prove the first Alexander ideal is principal, recovering a result first proved by Nakamura et al. using different methods. The resulting Alexander polynomial is shown to satisfy a skein relation, and its degree gives a lower bound for the Seifert genus. We tabulate almost classical knots up to 6 crossings and determine their Alexander polynomials and virtual genus.

A Calculation of Blanchfield Pairings of 3-Manifolds and Knots

We calculate Blanchfield pairings of 3-manifolds. In particular, we give a formula for the Blanchfield pairing of a fibred 3-manifold and we give a new proof that the Blanchfield pairing of a knot can be expressed in terms of a Seifert matrix.

Inequality on $t_\nu (K)$ defined by Livingston and Naik and its applications

Let $D_+(K,t)$ denote the positive $t$-twisted double of $K$. For a fixed integer-valued additive concordance invariant $\nu$ that bounds the smooth four genus of a knot and determines the smooth four genus of positive torus knots, Livingston and Naik defined $t_\nu(K)$ to be the greatest integer $t$ such that $\nu(D_+(K,t)) = 1$. Let $K_1$ and $K_2$ be any knots then we prove the following inequality : $t_\nu(K_1) + t_\nu(K_2) \leq t_\nu(K_1 \# K_2) \leq min(t_\nu(K_1) - t_\nu(-K_2), t_\nu(K_2) - t_\nu(-K_1)).$ As an application we show that $t_\tau(K) \neq t_s(K)$ for infinitely many knots and that their difference can be arbitrarily large, where $t_\tau(K)$ (respectively $t_s(K)$) is $t_\nu(K)$ when $\nu$ is Ozvath-Szabo invariant $\tau$ (respectively when $\nu$ is normalized Rasmussen $s$ invariant).