Nakisa Ghanbarian | Searcharxiv

arXiv2025

Band-unknotting numbers and connected sums of knots

We study the band-unknotting number $u_{nb}(K)$ of a knot $K$, and how it behaves with respect to connect sums. We show that this sub-additive function is not additive under connected sums, by finding infinitely many examples of knots $K_1, K_2$ with $u_{nb}(K_1\#K_2) < u_{nb}(K_1) + u_{nb}(K_2)$. Even more surprisingly, there are infinitely many examples of knots $K_1, K_2$ such that $u_{nb}(K_1\#K_2) < u_{nb}(K_i)$, $i=1,2$. Our work is motivated by the recent analogous results for the Gordian unknotting number by Brittenham and Hermiller \cite{BrittenhamHermiller}. We also prove new lower and upper bounds on the topological and smooth non-orientable 4-genus of a knot $K$.

math.GT↗

arXiv2020

The non-orientable 4-genus for knots with 10 crossings

Given a knot in the 3-sphere, the non-orientable 4-genus or 4-dimensional crosscap number of a knot is the minimal first Betti number of non-orientable surfaces, smoothly and properly embedded in the 4-ball, with boundary the knot. In this paper, we calculate the non-orientable 4-genus of knots with crossing number 10.

math.GT↗