Claus Ernst

September 13, 2024

Title: On the braid index of knots and links

Abstract: We review a well-known method to compute the braid index. Using this method, we can give a compute the braid index of all alternating Montesinos knots and links and all non alternating pretzel knots and links. The method uses just information that can be read of a minimal diagram of the knot or link.

Keywords: braid index, rational knots, Montesinos knots, pretzel knots, HOMFLY-PT polynomial.