paper

On the negative band number

arXiv:2504.17637

Abstract

We study the negative band number of braids, knots, and links using Birman, Ko, and Lee's left-canonical form of a braid. As applications, we characterize up to conjugacy strongly quasipositive braids and almost strongly quasipositive braids.

25 pages, 9 figures

On the negative band number · wovepaper