Related papers: The Jones and Alexander polynomials for singular l…
This paper contains the first knot polynomials which can distinguish the orientations of classical knots and which make no excplicit use of the knot group. But they make extensive use of the meridian and of the longitude in a geometric way.…
In this paper we introduce the tied links, i.e. ordinary links provided with some ties between strands. The motivation for introducing such objects originates from a diagrammatical interpretation of the defining generators of the so-called…
The group of a nontrivial knot admits a finite permutation representation such that the corresponding twisted Alexander polynomial is not a unit.
Defect characterizes the depth of factorization of terms in differential (cyclotomic) expansions of knot polynomials, i.e. of the non-perturbative Wilson averages in the Chern-Simons theory. We prove the conjecture that the defect can be…
The motivation for this work was to construct a nontrivial knot with trivial Jones polynomial. Although that open problem has not yielded, the methods are useful for other problems in the theory of knot polynomials. The subject of the…
We consider two Laurent polynomials in two variables associated to a braid, given by {\em graded intersections} between {\em fixed Lagrangians in configuration spaces}. In order to get link invariants, we notice that we have to quotient by…
We extend the quandle cocycle invariant to oriented singular knots and links using algebraic structures called \emph{oriented singquandles} and assigning weight functions at both regular and singular crossings. This invariant coincides with…
In this paper we prove that the Casson-Gordon invariants of the connected sum of two knots split when the Alexander polynomials of the knots are coprime. As one application, for any knot K, all but finitely many algebraically slice twisted…
Fox conjectured the Alexander polynomial of an alternating knot is trapezoidal, i.e. the coefficients first increase, then stabilize and finally decrease in a symmetric way. Recently, Hirasawa and Murasugi further conjectured a relation…
This paper is expository and is accessible to students. We define simple invariants of knots or links (linking number, Arf-Casson invariants and Alexander-Conway polynomials) motivated by interesting results whose statements are accessible…
In this note we define a polynomial invariant for colored links by a skein relation. It specializes to the Jones polynomial for classical links.
Recently, Bigelow defined a diagrammatic method for calculating the Alexander polynomial of a knot or link by resolving crossings in a planar algebra. I will present my multivariate version of Bigelow's calculation. The advantage to my…
Polynomial invariants constitute a dynamic and essential area of study in the mathematical theory of knots. From the pioneer Alexander polynomial, the revolutionary Jones polynomial, to the collectively discovered HOMFLYPT polynomial, just…
In this paper we introduce a Jones-type invariant for singular knots, using a Markov trace on the Yokonuma--Hecke algebras ${\rm Y}_{d,n}(u)$ and the theory of singular braids. The Yokonuma--Hecke algebras have a natural topological…
We revisit the issue of the existence of infinitely many distinct prime knots with the same Alexander invariant. We present infinitely many distinct families, each family made up of infinitely many distinct knots. Within each family, the…
It follows from earlier work of Silver-Williams and the authors that twisted Alexander polynomials detect the unknot and the Hopf link. We now show that twisted Alexander polynomials also detect the trefoil and the figure-8 knot, that…
We investigate the coefficients of the highest and lowest terms (also called the head and the tail) of the colored Jones polynomial and show that they stabilize for alternating links and for adequate links. To do this we apply techniques…
We give sharp two-sided linear bounds of the crosscap number (non-orientable genus) of alternating links in terms of their Jones polynomial. Our estimates are often exact and we use them to calculate the crosscap numbers for several…
One construction of the Alexander polynomial is as a quantum invariant associated with representations of restricted quantum $\mathfrak{sl}_2$ at a fourth root of unity. We generalize this construction to define a link invariant…
Cocycles are constructed by polynomial expressions for Alexander quandles. As applications, non-triviality of some quandle homology groups are proved, and quandle cocycle invariants of knots are studied. In particular, for an infinite…