- Unlink
In the mathematical field of
knot theory , the unlink is a link that is equivalent (underambient isotopy ) to finitely many disjoint circles in the plane.
* An "n"-component link "L" ⊂ S3 is an unlink if and only if there exists "n" disjointly embedded discs "D""i" ⊂ S3 such that "L" = ∪"i"∂"D""i".
* A link with one component is an unlinkif and only if it is isotopic to theunknot .
* TheHopf link is a simple example of a link with two components that is not an unlink.
* TheBorromean rings form a link with three components that is not an unlink; however, any two of the rings considered on their own do form a two-component unlink.
* Kanenobu has shown that for all "n" > 1 there exists ahyperbolic link of "n" components such that any proper sublink is an unlink. TheWhitehead link andBorromean rings are such examples for "n" = 2, 3.ee also
*
Unknot
*Link (knot theory)
*Linking number
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