  It is known that algebraically split links (links with vanishing pairwise
linking number) can be transformed into the trivial link by a series of local
moves on the link diagram called delta-moves; we define the delta-unlinking
number to be the minimum number of such moves needed. This generalizes the
notion of delta-unknotting number, defined to be the minimum number of
delta-moves needed to move a knot into the unknot. While the delta-unknotting
number has been well-studied and calculated for prime knots, no prior such
analysis has been conducted for the delta-unlinking number. We prove a number
of lower and upper bounds on the delta-unlinking number, relating it to
classical link invariants including unlinking number, 4-genus, and Arf
invariant. This allows us to determine the precise value of the delta-unlinking
number for algebraically split prime links with up to 9 crossings as well as
determine the 4-genus for most of these links.
