Non-hyperbolic solutions to tangle equations involving composite links

Abstract

Solving tangle equations is deeply connected with studying enzyme action on DNA. The main goal of this paper is to solve the system of tangle equations $N(O+X_1)=b_1$ and $N(O+X_2)=b_2 \# b_3$, where $X_1$ and $X_2$ are rational tangles, and $b_i$ is a 2-bridge link, for $i=1,2,3$, with $b_2$ and $b_3$ nontrivial. We solve this system of equations under the assumption $\widetilde{O}$, the double branched cover of $O$, is not hyperbolic, i.e.$O$ is not $\pi$-hyperbolic. Besides, we also deal with tangle equations involving 2-bridge links only under the assumption $O$ is an algebraic tangle.