Unknotting information from 4-manifolds

Cochran, T. D.; Lickorish, W. B. R.

doi:10.1090/S0002-9947-1986-0849471-4

Unknotting information from $4$-manifolds
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by T. D. Cochran and W. B. R. Lickorish PDF

Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 297 (1986), 125-142 Request permission

Abstract:

Results of S. K. Donaldson, and others, concerning the intersection forms of smooth $4$-manifolds are used to give new information on the unknotting numbers of certain classical knots. This information is particularly sensitive to the signs of the knot crossings changed in an unknotting process.

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