Embedding strings in the unknot.

Abstract

In this paper, the possibility of embedding a nontrivial string (R3,K) in the trivial knot (S3,U) is investigated. Uncountably many examples are given. The complementary space in S3 of the image of R3 under the embedding is a continuum. Some well-known snake-like continua appear as these residual spaces. The 2-fold coverings of R3 branched over the strings involved are studied. As a consequence, concrete descriptions of the p-adic solenoids are given, and it is shown that the Whitehead continuum is homeomorphic to Bing's snake-like continuum without end points.