2-bridge knot

Schematic picture of a 2-bridge knot.

Bridge number 2
31
51
63
71...

In the mathematical field of knot theory, a 2-bridge knot is a knot which can be isotoped so that the natural height function given by the z-coordinate has only two maxima and two minima as critical points. Equivalently, these are the knots with bridge number 2, the smallest possible bridge number for a nontrivial knot.

Other names for 2-bridge knots are rational knots, 4-plats, and Viergeflechte (German for four braids). 2-bridge links are defined similarly as above, but each component will have one min and max. 2-bridge knots were classified by Horst Schubert, using the fact that the 2-sheeted branched cover of the 3-sphere over the knot is a lens space.

The names rational knot and rational link were coined by John Conway who defined them as arising from numerator closures of rational tangles.

Further reading

  • Horst Schubert: Über Knoten mit zwei Brücken, Mathematische Zeitschrift 65:133–170 (1956).
  • Louis H. Kauffman, Sofia Lambropoulou: On the classification of rational knots, L' Enseignement Mathématique, 49:357–410 (2003). preprint available at arxiv.org (Archived 2009-05-14).
  • C. C. Adams, The Knot Book: An elementary introduction to the mathematical theory of knots. American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 2004. xiv+307 pp. ISBN 0-8218-3678-1


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