Related papers: On braids and groups $G_n^k$

In the 1920's Artin defined the braid group in an attempt to understand knots in a more algebraic setting. A braid is a certain arrangement of strings in three-dimensional space. It is a celebrated theorem of Alexander that every knot is…

We consider braids on $m+n$ strands, such that the first $m$ strands are trivially fixed. We denote the set of all such braids by $B_{m,n}$. Via concatenation $B_{m,n}$ acquires a group structure. The objective of this paper is to find a…

Recently, the author discovered an interesting class of knot-like objects called free knots. These purely combinatorial objects are equivalence classes of Gauss diagrams modulo Reidemeister moves (the same notion in the language of words…

The notion of free link is a generalized notion of virtual link. In the present paper we define the group of free braids, prove the Alexander theorem that all free links can be obtained as closures of free braids and prove a Markov theorem,…

For a knot diagram $K$, the classical knot group $\pi_1(K)$ is a free group modulo relations determined by Wirtinger-type relations on the classical crossings. The classical knot group is invariant under the Reidemeister moves. In this…

We initiate the homotopical study of racks and quandles, two algebraic structures that govern knot theory and related braided structures in algebra and geometry. We prove analogs of Milnor's theorem on free groups for these theories and…

In previous papers, the author realized the following principle for many knot theories: if a knot diagram is complicated enough then it reproduces itself, i.e., is a subdiagram of any other diagram equivalent to it. This principle is…

We solve the isomorphism problem for braid groups on trees with $n = 4$ or 5 strands. We do so in three main steps, each of which is interesting in its own right. First, we establish some tools and terminology for dealing with computations…

We describe an alternative way of computing Alexander polynomials of knots/links, based on the Artin representation of the corresponding braids by automorphisms of a free group. Then we apply the same method to other representations of…

A new method for deriving universal \v{R} matrices from braid group representation is discussed. In this case, universal \v{R} operators can be defined and expressed in terms of products of braid group generators. The advantage of this…

We ask if any finite type generalized braid group is a subgroup of some classical Artin braid group. We define a natural map from a given finite type generalized braid group to a classical braid group and ask if this map is an injective…

We introduce the classical theory of the interplay between group theory and topology into the context of operads and explore some applications to homotopy theory. We first propose a notion of a group operad and then develop a theory of…

Generalized knot groups G_n(K) were introduced first by Wada and Kelly independently. The classical knot group is the first one G_1(K) in this series of finitely presented groups. For each natural number n, G_1(K) is a subgroup of G_n(K) so…

We introduce "braided" versions of self-similar groups and R\"over--Nekrashevych groups, and study their finiteness properties. This generalizes work of Aroca and Cumplido, and the first author and Wu, who considered the case when the…

We consider the group of pure welded braids (also known as loop braids) up to (link-)homotopy. The pure welded braid group classically identifies, via the Artin action, with the group of basis-conjugating automorphisms of the free group,…

We give a complete classification of homomorphisms from the commutator subgroup of the braid group on $n$ strands to the braid group on $n$ strands when $n$ is at least 7. In particular, we show that each nontrivial homomorphism extends to…

We give a survey of the theory of surface braid groups and the lower algebraic K-theory of their group rings. We recall several definitions and describe various properties of surface braid groups, such as the existence of torsion,…

The deep connection among braids, knots and topological physics has provided valuable insights into studying topological states in various physical systems. However, identifying distinct braid groups and knot topology embedded in…

We describe the fundamental groups of ordered and unordered $k-$point sets in the n-dimensional complex space $C^n$ generating an affine subspace of fixed dimension.

Let G be a graph. The (unlabeled) configuration space of n points on G is the space of all n-element subsets of G. The fundamental group of such a configuration space is called a graph braid group. We use a version of discrete Morse theory…