Related papers: Burau maps and twisted Alexander polynomials
Twisted Alexander invariants of knots are well-defined up to multiplication of units. We get rid of this multiplicative ambiguity via a combinatorial method and define normalized twisted Alexander invariants. We then show that the…
We complete the enumeration of the possible roots of the Alexander polynomial (both conventional and over finite fields) of a trigonal curve. The curves are not assumed proper or irreducible.
An accurate method to compute enclosures of Abelian integrals is developed. This allows for an accurate description of the phase portraits of planar polynomial systems that are perturbations of Hamiltonian systems. As an example, it is…
We introduce the concept of braided alternative bialgebra. The theory of cocycle bicrossproducts for alternative bialgebras is developed. As an application, the extending problem for alternative bialgebra is solved by using some non-abelian…
We address the question: Does there exist a non-trivial knot with a trivial Jones polynomial? To find such a knot, it is almost certainly sufficient to find a non-trivial braid on four strands in the kernel of the Burau representation. I…
Given a homomorphism from a link group to a group, we introduce a $K_1$-class in another way, which is a generalization of the 1-variable Alexander polynomial. We compare the $K_1$-class with $K_1$-classes in \cite{Nos} and with…
We present a simple combinatorial model for quasipositive surfaces and positive braids, based on embedded bipartite graphs. As a first application, we extend the well-known duality on standard diagrams of torus links to twisted torus links.…
We provide explicit generators for the torsion of the second cohomology of bielliptic surfaces, and we use this to study pullback map between Brauer group of a bielliptic surface and that of its canonical cover.
We compute the Brauer group of the moduli stack of elliptic curves over the integers, localizations of the integers, finite fields of odd characteristic, and algebraically closed fields of characteristic not $2$. The methods involved…
We define orbifold mapping class groups (with marked points) and study them using their action on certain orbifold analogs of arcs and simple closed curves. Moreover, we establish a Birman exact sequence for suitable subgroups of orbifold…
We calculate the twisted Reidemeister torsion of the complement of an iterated torus knot associated with a representation of its fundamental group to the complex special linear group of degree two. We also show that the twisted…
We study the crossing matrix of a braid and introduce a polynomial invariant for braid systems that is invariant under Hurwitz equivalence. As an application to the study of surface braids and surface links, we also define an invariant that…
The congruence subgroups of braid groups arise from a congruence condition on the integral Burau representation $B_n \to \operatorname{GL}_{n}(\mathbb Z)$. We find the image of such congruence subgroups in $\operatorname{GL}_{n}(\mathbb…
The Torres formula, which relates the Alexander polynomial of a link to the Alexander polyomial of its sublinks, admits a generalization to the twisted setting due to Morifuji. This paper uses twisted Reidemeister torsion to obtain a second…
Suppose the knot group G(K) of a knot K has a non-abelian representation \rho on A_4 \subset GL(4,Z). We conjecture that the twisted Alexander polynomial of K associated to \rho is of the form: \Delta_K(t)/(1-t) \phi(t^3), where \Delta_K…
Properties of the Alexander polynomials of Hurwitz curves are investigated. A complete description of the set of the Alexander polynomials of irreducible Hurwitz curves in the terms of their roots is given.
Let $H(p)$ be the set of 2-bridge knots $K$ whose group $G$ is mapped onto a non-trivial free product, $Z/2 * Z/p$, $p$ being odd. Then there is an algebraic integer $s_0$ such that for any $K$ in $H(p)$, $G$ has a parabolic representation…
This paper will appear in the Santa Cruz proceedings. An overview of the braid group techniques in the theory of algebraic surfaces, from Zariski to the latest results, is presented. An outline of the Van Kampen algorithm for computing…
A branched covering map of surfaces induces a map in the opposite direction between their arc complexes. We represent a branched covering map combinatorially using what we call a lifting picture, and use this representation to computably…
We linearize the Artin representation of the braid group given by (right) automorphisms of a free group providing a linear faithful representation of the braid group. This result is generalized to obtain linear representations for the…