On the spectra of mapping classes and the 4-genera of positive knots
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Abstract
Roughly, this thesis can be divided into three parts.
In the first part, we study the Galois conjugates of the dilatation of pseudo-Anosov mapping classes. In particular, for a product of two multitwists, we show that all Galois conjugates are either real and positive or contained in the unit circle and the positive real axis, depending on whether the products are of opposite or of the same sign. Furthermore, for each closed orientable surface, we determine the minimal dilatation among pseudo-Anosov mapping classes arising from Penner's construction.
In the second part, we consider the Alexander polynomial and the signature function of links. For a Murasugi sum of two Seifert surfaces with symmetric, definite Seifert form, we show that all zeroes of the Alexander polynomial are either real and positive or contained in unit circle and the negative real axis, depending on whether the Seifert forms are definite of opposite or the same sign. Furthermore, we prove that the signature function of a Murasugi sum of two Seifert surfaces with symmetric, definite Seifert form is monotonic. We also show that the signature of a positive arborescent Hopf plumbing is greater than or equal to two thirds of the first Betti number.
In the third part, we study the topological four-genus of positive braid knots. We show that the difference of the ordinary Seifert genus and the topological four-genus grows at least linearly with the positive braid index. In particular, we show that the positive braid knots for which the topological four-genus equals the ordinary Seifert genus are exactly the positive braid knots with maximal signature invariant.
In the first part, we study the Galois conjugates of the dilatation of pseudo-Anosov mapping classes. In particular, for a product of two multitwists, we show that all Galois conjugates are either real and positive or contained in the unit circle and the positive real axis, depending on whether the products are of opposite or of the same sign. Furthermore, for each closed orientable surface, we determine the minimal dilatation among pseudo-Anosov mapping classes arising from Penner's construction.
In the second part, we consider the Alexander polynomial and the signature function of links. For a Murasugi sum of two Seifert surfaces with symmetric, definite Seifert form, we show that all zeroes of the Alexander polynomial are either real and positive or contained in unit circle and the negative real axis, depending on whether the Seifert forms are definite of opposite or the same sign. Furthermore, we prove that the signature function of a Murasugi sum of two Seifert surfaces with symmetric, definite Seifert form is monotonic. We also show that the signature of a positive arborescent Hopf plumbing is greater than or equal to two thirds of the first Betti number.
In the third part, we study the topological four-genus of positive braid knots. We show that the difference of the ordinary Seifert genus and the topological four-genus grows at least linearly with the positive braid index. In particular, we show that the positive braid knots for which the topological four-genus equals the ordinary Seifert genus are exactly the positive braid knots with maximal signature invariant.
Date of Publication
2017
Year of graduation
2017
Theses Type
dissertation
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Liechti, Nicola Livio |
Faculty/Graduate School
Institute
Access(Rights)
open.access
Primary OA Publication
true