Definitions

# Unknotting problem

In mathematics, the unknotting problem is the problem of algorithmically recognizing the unknot, given some input, e.g., a knot diagram.

There are several types of unknotting algorithms. A major open problem is to determine if there is such a polynomial time algorithm. The unknotting problem is known to be in NP, and also in AM $cap$ coAM. Ian Agol has claimed a proof that unknotting is in NP $cap$ co-NP.

Some algorithms:

• Haken's algorithm - uses the theory of normal surfaces to check for a normal disc bound by the knot
• An upper bound (exponential in crossing number) exists on the number of Reidemeister moves needed to change an unknot diagram to the standard unknot. This gives a brute-force search algorithm.
• Birman-Hirsch algorithm - uses braid foliations
• Residual finiteness of the knot group (which follows from geometrization of Haken manifolds) gives a rather inefficient algorithm: check if the group has a representation into a symmetric group with non-cyclic image while simultaneously attempting to produce a subdivision of the triangulated complement that is equivalent to a subdivision of the triangulated solid torus.
• Knot Floer homology of the knot detects the genus of the knot, which is 0 if and only if the knot is an unknot. A combinatorial version of knot Floer homology allows a straightforward computation.

Understanding the complexity of these algorithms is an active field of study.

• Masao Hara, Seiichi Tani and Makoto Yamamoto. Unknotting is in $mathbf\left\{AM\right\} cap mathbf\left\{coAM\right\}$ Proceedings of the ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms (SODA), 2005