Uniqueness conjecture for unknotting crossings of alternating knots

Let KK) be an alternating knot with unknotting number u(K)=1u(K)=1, and let DD be an alternating diagram of KK. An unknotting crossing is a crossing whose change produces the unknot; two such crossings have the same sign when their crossing signs agree. A clasp knot is the knot type intended by the source's terminology.

Uniqueness conjecture. If DD contains more than one unknotting crossing of the same sign, then KK is a clasp knot.

The conjecture is motivated by the observation that, in all known examples, the isomorphism from the lattice associated with an alternating diagram to a change-maker lattice is essentially unique. Its resolution status is not specified in the supplied text.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Duncan McCoy, “Alternating knots with unknotting number one”, arXiv:1312.1278 (2014).

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