Related papers: Obstructions to trivializing a knot

In a previous work [11], the author considered a representation of the braid group \rho: B_n\to GL_m(\Bbb Z[q^{\pm 1},t^{\pm 1}]) (m=n(n-1)/2), and proved it to be faithful for n=4. Bigelow [3] then proved the same representation to be…

We show that the Lawrence-Krammer representation based on two parameters that was used by Bigelow and independently Krammer to show the linearity of the braid group is generically irreducible, but that when its parameters are specialized to…

Let $B_n$ denote the classical braid group on $n$ strands and let the {\em mixed braid group} $B_{m,n}$ be the subgroup of $B_{m+n}$ comprising braids for which the first $m$ strands form the identity braid. Let…

We study homological representations of mapping class groups, including the braid groups. These arise from the twisted homology of certain configuration spaces, and come in many different flavours. Our goal is to give a unified general…

The study of a certain class of matrix integrals can be motivated by their interpretation as counting objects of knot theory such as alternating prime links, tangles or knots. The simplest such model is studied in detail and allows to…

We show that reducible braids which are, in a Garside-theoretical sense, as simple as possible within their conjugacy class, are also as simple as possible in a geometric sense. More precisely, if a braid belongs to a certain subset of its…

A knot type is exchange reducible if an arbitrary closed n-braid representative can be changed to a closed braid of minimum braid index by a finite sequence of braid isotopies, exchange moves and +/- destabilizations. In the manuscript [J…

Let B be the generalized braid group associated to some finite complex reflection group. We define a representation of B of dimension the number of reflections of the corresponding reflection group, which generalizes the Krammer…

Let M be a compact, connected surface, possibly with a finite set of points removed from its interior. Let d,n be positive integers, and let N be a d-fold covering space of M. We show that the covering map induces an embedding of the n-th…

The Alexander theorem (1923) and the Markov theorem (1936) are two classical results in knot theory that show respectively that every link is the closure of a braid and that braids that have the same closure are related by a finite number…

Recent results on the linearity of braid groups are extended in two ways. We generalize the Lawrence Krammer representation as well as Krammer's faithfulness proof for this linear representation to Artin groups of finite type.

Final revision. To appear in the Journal of Differential Geometry. This paper studies knots that are transversal to the standard contact structure in $\reals^3$, bringing techniques from topological knot theory to bear on their transversal…

We introduce framed versions of the $L$-moves and prove a one move theorem for the extension of the Markov theorem for framed braids. We further introduce framed versions of the Hilden and Pure Hilden groups, we give presentations and we…

The knot group is the fundamental group of a knot or link complement. A necessary and sufficient conditions for a group to be realized as the knot group of some link was provided. This result was shown using the closed braid method.…

We show that a transverse link in a contact structure supported by an open book decomposition can be transversely braided. We also generalize Markov's theorem on when the closures of two braids represent (transversely) isotopic links.

Braidoids generalize the classical braids and form a counterpart theory to the theory of planar knotoids, just as the theory of braids does for the theory of knots. In this paper, we introduce basic notions of braidoids, a closure operation…

A non-singular sesquilinear form is constructed that is preserved by the Lawrence-Krammer representation. It is shown that if the polynomial variables q and t of the Lawrence-Krammer representation are chosen to be appropriate algebraically…

Dehn twists around simple closed curves in oriented surfaces satisfy the braid relations. This gives rise to a group theoretic from the braid group to the mapping class group. We prove here that this map is trivial in stable homology with…

In this survey paper we present the $L$--moves between braids and how they can adapt and serve for establishing and proving braid equivalence theorems for various diagrammatic settings, such as for classical knots, for knots in knot…

We prove that if an alternating 3-braid knot has unknotting number one, then there must exist an unknotting crossing in any alternating diagram of it, and we enumerate such knots. The argument combines the obstruction to unknotting number…