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arXiv · 2610.39474

Higher order unknotting numbers for knots and links

Jean-Baptiste Meilhan·Harumi Ogita·Akira Yasuhara
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Abstract

Ohyama, Taniyama and Yamada showed that finite type knot invariants are insensitive to the unknotting number: for any integer n and any knot K, there is an unknotting number 1 knot which cannot be distinguished from K by any finite type invariant of order $\le n$. We generalize this result in three directions. First, we prove an analogous result for all higher order unknotting number given by $C_n$-moves. Second, we give several extensions to the link case. Third, we show that a similar result holds for ribbon 2-knots.

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Jean-Baptiste Meilhan, Harumi Ogita, Akira Yasuhara. 2026-10-29. Higher order unknotting numbers for knots and links. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.39474

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