Parametric satellites and connected-sums in the space of Legendrian embeddings

Abstract

This article introduces two new constructions at the higher homotopy level in the space of Legendrian embeddings in $({\mathbb{R}}^3,{\xi }_{\mathrm{std}})$. We first introduce the parametric Legendrian satellite construction, showing that the satellite operation works for parametric families of Legendrian embeddings. This yields new invariants at the higher-order homotopy level. We then introduce the parametric connected-sum construction. This operation takes as inputs two $n$-spheres based at Legendrian embeddings $K_1$ and $K_2$, respectively, and produces a new $n$-sphere based at $K_1\#K_2$. As a main application we construct new infinite families of loops of Legendrian embeddings with non-trivial LCH monodromy invariant.

27 pages, 18 figures