Link concordance

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In mathematics two links L_0 \subset S^n and L_1 \subset S^n are concordant if there is an embedding f : L_0 \times [0,1] \to S^n \times [0,1] such that f(L_0 \times \{0\}) = L_0 \times \{0\} and f(L_0 \times \{1\}) = L_1 \times \{1\}.

By its nature, link concordance is an equivalence relation. The linking number of any two components of a link is one of the most elementary concordance invariants. The signature of a knot is also a concordance invariant.

[edit] References

  • J.Hillman, Algebraic invariants of links. Series on Knots and everything. Vol 32. World Scientific.