Constrained knots in lens spaces

Abstract

In this paper, we study a special family of $(1,1)$ knots called constrained knots, which includes 2-bridge knots in the 3-sphere $S^3$ and simple knots in lens spaces. Constrained knots are parameterized by five integers and characterized by the distribution of spin$^c$ structures in the corresponding $(1,1)$ diagrams. The knot Floer homology $\widehat{HFK}$ of a constrained knot is thin. We obtain a complete classification of constrained knots based on the calculation of $\widehat{HFK}$ and presentations of knot groups. We provide many examples of constrained knots constructed from surgeries on links in $S^3$, which are related to 2-bridge knots and 1-bridge braids. We also show many examples of constrained knots whose knot complements are orientable hyperbolic 1-cusped manifolds with simple ideal triangulations.