Knots and Surfaces - Seifert Surfaces in Algebraic Topology - Lecture 2

Explore the fascinating world of knots and surfaces in this advanced algebraic topology lecture. Delve into Seifert's groundbreaking 1930s work, demonstrating how any knot can be viewed as the boundary of an orientable surface. Learn the step-by-step algorithm for constructing Seifert surfaces, with practical applications to the trefoil and square knots. Investigate the impact of adding cuffs on Euler numbers for surfaces with boundaries, and examine the properties of spheres with multiple cuffs. Analyze Seifert surfaces composed of disks and bands, deriving key relationships between their components. Conclude by tackling a challenging problem to determine Seifert surfaces for specific knot diagrams, reinforcing your understanding of these complex topological concepts.