Related papers: New perspectives on self-linking

We show that the map on components from the space of classical long knots to the n-th stage of its Goodwillie-Weiss embedding calculus tower is a map of monoids whose target is an abelian group and which is invariant under clasper surgery.…

This paper continues the study of finite-type invariants of homology spheres studied by Ohtsuki and Garoufalidis. We apply the surgery classification of links to give a diagrammatic description, using ideas of Ohtsuki. This uses a…

By using double branched covers, we prove that there is a 1-1 correspondence between the set of knotoids in the 2-sphere, up to orientation reversion and rotation, and knots with a strong inversion, up to conjugacy. This correspondence…

We find that Koschorke's $\beta$-invariant and the triple $\mu$-invariant of link maps in the critical dimension can be computed as degrees of certain maps of configuration spaces - just like the linking number. Both formulas admit…

It is natural to try to place the new polynomial invariants of links in algebraic topology (e.g. to try to interpret them using homology or homotopy groups). However, one can think that these new polynomial invariants are byproducts of a…

We describe a way of representing finite biquandles with n elements as 2n x 2n block matrices. Any finite biquandle defines an invariant of virtual knots through counting homomorphisms. The counting invariants of non-quandle biquandles can…

We give a combinatorial treatment of transverse homology, a new invariant of transverse knots that is an extension of knot contact homology. The theory comes in several flavors, including one that is an invariant of topological knots and…

In this paper we study the topology of three different kinds of spaces associated to polynomial knots of degree at most $d$, for $d\geq2$. We denote these spaces by $\mathcal{O}_d$, $\mathcal{P}_d$ and $\mathcal{Q}_d$. For $d\geq3$, we show…

An essential goal in the study of finite type invariants of some objects (knots, manifolds) is the construction of a universal finite type invariant, universal in the sense that it contains all finite type invariants of the given objects.…

Using the theory of perverse sheaves of vanishing cycles, we define a homological invariant of knots in three-manifolds, similar to the three-manifold invariant constructed by Abouzaid and the second author. We use spaces of SL(2,C) flat…

The study of knots and links from a probabilistic viewpoint provides insight into the behavior of "typical" knots, and opens avenues for new constructions of knots and other topological objects with interesting properties. The knotting of…

We define an integer valued invariant for two-component links in S^3 by counting projective SU(2) representations of the link group having non-trivial second Stiefel-Whitney class. We show that our invariant is, up to sign, the linking…

We recursively determine the homotopy type of the space of any irreducible framed link in the 3-sphere, modulo rotations. This leads us to the homotopy type of the space of any knot in the solid torus, thus answering a question posed by…

Let M be a closed oriented 3-manifold with first Betti number one. Its equivariant linking pairing may be seen as a two-dimensional cohomology class in an appropriate infinite cyclic covering of the configuration space of ordered pairs of…

Ropelength and embedding thickness are related measures of geometric complexity of classical knots and links in Euclidean space. In their recent work, Freedman and Krushkal posed a question regarding lower bounds for embedding thickness of…

We make use of the 3D nature of knots and links to find savings in computational complexity when computing knot invariants such as the linking number and, in general, most finite type invariants. These savings are achieved in comparison…

This is a survey article about knot Floer homology. We present three constructions of this invariant: the original one using holomorphic disks, a combinatorial description using grid diagrams, and a combinatorial description in terms of the…

By using the notion of a rigid R-matrix in a monoidal category and the Reshetikhin--Turaev functor on the category of tangles, we review the definition of the associated invariant of long knots. In the framework of the monoidal categories…

Pseudodiagrams are knot or link diagrams where some of the crossing information is missing. Pseudoknots are equivalence classes of pseudodiagrams, where equivalence is generated by a natural set of Reidemeister moves. In this paper, we…

By considering homotopies that preserve the stratification, one obtains a natural notion of homotopy for stratified spaces. In this short note, we introduce invariants of stratified homotopy, the stratified homotopy groups. We show that…