On Knotted Subgroups

Abstract

In this article, we defined a knotted subgroup of a Lie group and considered a geometric notion of equivalence among them. We characterized these knotted subgroups in terms of one-parameter subgroups and provided examples in the case of SU(2) and SU(3). Infinitesimal elements that give rise to knotted subgroups of SU(n) and SO(n) are characterized as well. Canonical forms for their knotted subgroups are presented and their properties are described in terms of the spectrum of the corresponding infinitesimal elements. Finally, knotted subgroups of SL(2,R) are completely classified using direct computation while knotted subgroups of SL(3,R) are completely classified using Jordan canonical forms.