  The $n$-solvable filtration of the $m$-component smooth (string) link
concordance group, $$\dots \subset \mathcal{F}^m_{n+1} \subset
\mathcal{F}^m_{n.5} \subset \mathcal{F}^m_n \dots \subset \mathcal{F}^m_1
\subset \mathcal{F}^m_{0.5} \subset \mathcal{F}^m_0 \subset
\mathcal{F}^m_{-0.5} \subset \mathcal{C}^m,$$ as defined by Cochran, Orr, and
Teichner, is a tool for studying smooth knot and link concordance that yields
important results in low-dimensional topology. The focus of this paper is to
give a characterization of the set of 0-solvable links. We introduce a new
equivalence relation on links called 0-solve equivalence and establish both an
algebraic and a geometric classification of $\mathbb{L}_0^m$, the set of links
up to 0-solve equivalence. We show that $\mathbb{L}_0^m$ has a group structure
isomorphic to the quotient $\mathcal{F}_{-0.5}/\mathcal{F}_0$ of concordance
classes of string links and classify this group, showing that $$\mathbb{L}_0^m
\cong \mathcal{F}_{-0.5}^m/\mathcal{F}_0^m \cong \mathbb{Z}_2^m \oplus
\mathbb{Z}^{m \choose 3} \oplus \mathbb{Z}_2^{m \choose 2}.$$ Finally, using
results of Conant, Schneiderman, and Teichner, we show that 0-solvable links
are precisely the links that bound class 2 gropes and support order 2 Whitney
towers in the 4-ball.

Geometric Topology