Real algebraic knots of low degree

Johan Björklund

Published 2009-05-26, updated 2011-08-05Version 2

In this paper we study rational real algebraic knots in $\R P^3$. We show that two real algebraic knots of degree $\leq5$ are rigidly isotopic if and only if their degrees and encomplexed writhes are equal. We also show that any irreducible smooth knot which admits a plane projection with less than or equal to four crossings has a rational parametrization of degree $\leq 6$. Furthermore an explicit construction of rational knots of a given degree with arbitrary encomplexed writhe (subject to natural restrictions) is presented.