Related papers: Representations of knot groups into $\mathrm{SL}_n…

Twisted Alexander invariants have been defined for any knot and linear representation of its group. The invariants are generalized for any periodic representation of the commutator subgroup of the knot group. Properties of the new twisted…

We generalize a theorem of Burde and de Rham characterizing the zeros of the Alexander polynomial. Given a representation of a knot group $\pi$, we define an extension of $\pi$, the Crowell group. For any GL(n,C) representation of $\pi$,…

We determine the irreducible ${\rm SL}(2,\mathbb{C})$-character variety of the 3-chain link exterior which is called the `magic $3$-manifold', and deduce a formula for the twisted Alexander polynomial associated to each ${\rm…

It is known, since works of Burde and de Rham, that one can detect the roots of the Alexander polynomial of a knot by the study of the representations of the knot group into the group of the invertible upper triangular $2x2$ matrices. In…

The derived group of a permutation representation, introduced by R.H. Crowell, unites many notions of knot theory. We survey Crowell's construction, and offer new applications. The twisted Alexander group of a knot is defined. Using it, we…

We study irreducible ${\rm SL}_2$-representations of twist knots. We first determine all non-acyclic ${\rm SL}_2(\mathbb{C})$-representations, which turn out to lie on a line denoted as $x=y$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$. Our main tools are character…

Let $M_\phi$ be a surface bundle over a circle with monodromy $\phi:S \rightarrow S$. We study deformations of certain reducible representations of $\pi_1(M_\phi)$ into $\text{SL}(n,\mathbb{C})$, obtained by composing a reducible…

We establish a connection between the Alexander polynomial of a knot and its twisted and $L^2$-versions with the triangulations that appear in 3-dimensional hyperbolic geometry. Specifically, we introduce twisted Neumann--Zagier matrices of…

We prove that the fundamental group of any integer homology 3-sphere different from the 3-sphere admits irreducible representations of its fundamental group in SL(2,C). For hyperbolic integer homology spheres this comes with the definition,…

Let M a 3-manifold with torus boundary which is a rational homology circle. We study deformations of reducible representations of p_1(M) into PSL_2(C) associated to a simple zero of the twisted Alexander polynomial. We also describe the…

In this paper we introduce an algebraic structure known as meta-monoids which is particularly suited for the study of knot theory. We define a meta-monoid called $\Gamma$-calculus that gives an Alexander invariant of tangles. We believe…

We study the twisted knot module for the universal deformation of an ${\rm SL}_2$-representation of a knot group, and introduce an associated $L$-function, which may be seen as an analogue of the algebraic $p$-adic $L$-function associated…

When two boundary-parabolic representations of knot groups are given, we introduce the connected sum of these representations and show several natural properties including the unique factorization property. Furthermore, the complex volume…

The Pontryagin dual of the twisted Alexander module for a d-component link and GL(N,Z) representation is an algebraic dynamical system with an elementary description in terms of colorings of a diagram. In the case of a knot, its associated…

We give an extension of Fox's formula of the Alexander polynomial for double branched covers over the three-sphere. Our formula provides the Reidemeister torsion of a double branched cover along a knot for a non-trivial one dimensional…

The Alexander polynomial of a knot has been generalized in three different ways to give twisted invariants. The resulting invariants are usually referred to as twisted Alexander polynomials, higher-order Alexander polynomials and…

Given $\Gamma$ a finite subgroup of $\mathbf{SL}_3\mathbb{C}$, we determine how an arbitrary finite dimensional irreducible representation of $\mathbf{SL}_3\mathbb{C}$ decomposes under the action of $\Gamma$. To the subgroup $\Gamma$ we…

We study the existence of irreducible $SU(2)$-representations for cyclic branched covers of knots in $S^3$. Our main result establishes that if $K$ is a non-trivial prime knot and $d$ is an integer such that $d \geq 2$ and $\Sigma_d(K)$ is…

We study the twisted Alexander polynomial $\Delta_{K,\rho}$ of a knot $K$ associated to a non-abelian representation $\rho$ of the knot group into $SL_2(\BC)$. It is known for every knot $K$ that if $K$ is fibered, then for every…

We study the representations of a class of non-commutative polynomial algebras truncated at degree 3, with one additional relation. We determine the irreducible components of their varieties of representations. We do this by showing that…