English

Knot theory and cluster algebras

Representation Theory 2024-05-03 v3 Combinatorics General Topology

Abstract

We establish a connection between knot theory and cluster algebras via representation theory. To every knot diagram (or link diagram), we associate a cluster algebra by constructing a quiver with potential. The rank of the cluster algebra is 2n2n, where nn is the number of crossing points in the knot diagram. We then construct 2n2n indecomposable modules T(i)T(i) over the Jacobian algebra of the quiver with potential. For each T(i)T(i), we show that the submodule lattice is isomorphic to the corresponding lattice of Kauffman states. We then give a realization of the Alexander polynomial of the knot as a specialization of the FF-polynomial of T(i)T(i), for every ii. Furthermore, we conjecture that the collection of the T(i)T(i) forms a cluster in the cluster algebra whose quiver is isomorphic to the opposite of the initial quiver, and that the resulting cluster automorphism is of order two.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2110.14740,
  title  = {Knot theory and cluster algebras},
  author = {Véronique Bazier-Matte and Ralf Schiffler},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2110.14740},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

38 pages, 15 figures. V3 addendum added

R2 v1 2026-06-24T07:14:52.690Z