A Midsummer Knot's Dream

In this paper, we introduce playing games on shadows of knots. We demonstrate two novel games, namely, To Knot or Not to Knot and Much Ado about Knotting. We also discuss winning strategies for these games on certain families of knot shadows. Finally, we suggest variations of these games for further study.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures. To appear, College Mathematics Journal

Duality properties of indicatrices of knots

The bridge index and superbridge index of a knot are important invariants in knot theory. We define the bridge map of a knot conformation, which is closely related to these two invariants, and interpret it in terms of the tangent indicatrix of the knot conformation. Using the concepts of dual and derivative curves of spherical curves as introduced by Arnold, we show that the graph of the bridge map is the union of the binormal indicatrix, its antipodal curve, and some number of great circles. Similarly, we define the inflection map of a knot conformation, interpret it in terms of the binormal indicatrix, and express its graph in terms of the tangent indicatrix. This duality relationship is also studied for another dual pair of curves, the normal and Darboux indicatrices of a knot conformation. The analogous concepts are defined and results are derived for stick knots.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figure

The spine of the TT-graph of the Hilbert scheme of points in the plane

The torus $T$ of projective space also acts on the Hilbert scheme of subschemes of projective space. The $T$-graph of the Hilbert scheme has vertices the fixed points of this action, and edges connecting pairs of fixed points in the closure of a one-dimensional orbit. In general this graph depends on the underlying field. We construct a subgraph, which we call the spine, of the $T$-graph of $\operatorname{Hilb}^m(\mathbb A^2)$ that is independent of the choice of infinite field. For certain edges in the spine we also give a description of the tropical ideal, in the sense of tropical scheme theory, of a general ideal in the edge. This gives a more refined understanding of these edges, and of the tropical stratification of the Hilbert scheme.Mathematics Subject Classifications: 14C05, 14T10, 14L30Keywords: Hilbert scheme, $T$-graph, tropical idea

Equations at infinity for critical-orbit-relation families of rational maps

We develop techniques for using compactifications of Hurwitz spaces to study families of rational maps $\mathbb{P}^1\to\mathbb{P}^1$ defined by critical orbit relations. We apply these techniques in two settings: We show that the parameter space $\mathrm{Per}_{d,n}$ of degree-$d$ bicritical maps with a marked 4-periodic critical point is a $d^2$-punctured Riemann surface of genus $\frac{(d-1)(d-2)}{2}$. We also show that the parameter space $\mathrm{Per}_{2,5}$ of degree-2 rational maps with a marked 5-periodic critical point is a 10-punctured elliptic curve, and we identify its isomorphism class over $\mathbb{Q}$. We carry out an experimental study of the interaction between dynamically defined points of $\mathrm{Per}_{2,5}$ (such as PCF points or punctures) and the group structure of the underlying elliptic curve.Comment: Significant revisions and generalizations, added new application (Section 5), 22 page

Genus-zero r-spin theory

We provide an explicit formula for all primary genus-zero r-spin invariants. Our formula is piecewise polynomial in the monodromies at each marked point and in r. To deduce the structure of these invariants, we use a tropical realization of the corresponding cohomological field theories