On a flow to untangle elastic knots

Chun Chi Lin*, Hartmut R. Schwetlick

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper we present a method to untangle smooth knots by a gradient flow for a suitable energy. We show that the flow of smooth initial knots remains smooth for all time and approaches asymptotically an "optimal embedding" in its isotopy type. The method is to set up a gradient flow for the total energy of knots, which consists of bending energy and the Möbius energy of knots.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)621-647
Number of pages27
JournalCalculus of Variations and Partial Differential Equations
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analysis
  • Applied Mathematics

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