Inscribed right-handed trefoil conjecture

Let γ:RR3\gamma:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}^3 be an analytic Z\mathbb{Z}-periodic function with nonvanishing derivative that parameterizes a right-handed trefoil. A polygonal inscribed trefoil is obtained by cyclically connecting finitely many points of the form γ(ti)\gamma(t_i) by line segments. Inscribed right-handed trefoil conjecture. There exist numbers

0t1<t2<<t6<10\leq t_1<t_2<\cdots<t_6<1

such that the polygonal path obtained by cyclically connecting γ(t1),γ(t2),,γ(t6)\gamma(t_1),\gamma(t_2),\ldots,\gamma(t_6) is also a right-handed trefoil. This conjecture asks whether the handedness of the inscribed trefoil can be prescribed; the preceding result guarantees an inscribed trefoil for analytically parameterized trefoils but gives no control over its handedness.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Cole Hugelmeyer, “Inscribed Trefoil Knots”, arXiv:1804.09818 (2018).

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