Topology Seminar: Professor Masao Hara (Tokai University, Japan)

Abstract:It seemed quite difficult to determined crossing number of a link until Jones discovered a new polynomial invariant. Important results about crossing number of a link were shown after Kauffman gave a method for calculating Jones polynomial.

I will survey the relation between the reduced degree of Jones polynomial of a link and its crossing number and discuss Jones polynomial of a pretzel link. I will introduce an adequate diagram and discuss minimality of a diagram from the viewpoint of it. I will discuss the difference between the reduced degrees of Jones polynomials of pretzel links and their crossing numbers, and whether Jones polynomial is a complete invariant on alternating pretzel knots.