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2014•Unpublished venueRequires access

TOPOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL LINK THEORY ARE DISTINCT

Alexander Coward, Joel Hass

Open publisher page 4 citations

Abstract

Abstract. Physical knots and links are one-dimensional submanifolds of R3 with fixed length and thickness. We show that isotopy classes in this category can differ from those of classical knot and link theory. In particular we exhibit a Gordian Split Link, a two component link that is split in the classical theory but cannot be split with a physical isotopy. 1.

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What this paper is about

Abstract. Physical knots and links are one-dimensional submanifolds of R3 with fixed length and thickness. We show that isotopy classes in this category can differ from those of classical knot and link theory. In particular we exhibit a Gordian Split Link, a two component link that is split in the classical theory but cannot be split with a physical isotopy. 1.

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Available abstract

Abstract. Physical knots and links are one-dimensional submanifolds of R3 with fixed length and thickness. We show that isotopy classes in this category can differ from those of classical knot and link theory. In particular we exhibit a Gordian Split Link, a two component link that is split in the classical theory but cannot be split with a physical isotopy. 1.

Key concepts: Isotopy, Link (geometry), Mathematics, Knot (papermaking), Knot theory, Linking number, Topology (electrical circuits), Pure mathematics

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