A Categorical Structure for the Virtual Braid Group

This article gives a new interpretation of the virtual braid group in terms of a strict monoidal category SC that is freely generated by one object and three morphisms, two of the morphisms corresponding to basic pure virtual braids and one morphism corresponding to a transposition in the symmetric group. This point of view makes many relationships between the virtual braid group and the pure virtual braid group apparent, and makes representations of the virtual braid groups and pure virtual braid groups via solutions to the algebraic Yang–Baxter Equation equally transparent. In this categorical framework, the virtual braid group has nothing to do with the plane and nothing to do with virtual crossings. It is a natural group associated with the structure of algebraic braiding.     

Virtual singular braids and links

Virtual singular braids are generalizations of singular braids and virtual braids. We define the virtual singular braid monoid via generators and relations, and prove Alexander- and Markov-type theorems for virtual singular links. We also show that the virtual singular braid monoid has another presentation with fewer generators.     

Knots,groups, subfactors and physics

Groups have played a big role in knot theory. We show how subfactors (subalgebras of certain von Neumann algebras) lead to unitary representations of the braid groups and Thompson’s groups \({F}\) and \({T}\). All knots and links may be obtained from geometric constructions from these groups. And invariants of knots may be obtained as coefficients of these representations. We include an extended introduction to von Neumann algebras and subfactors.     

Virtual link groups

The authors have previously constructed two representations of the virtual braid group into the automorphism group of the free product of a free group and a free abelian group. Using them, we construct the two groups, each of which is a virtual link invariant. By the example of the virtual trefoil knot we show that the constructed groups are not isomorphic, and establish a connection between these groups as well as their connection with the group of the virtual trefoil knot which was defined by Carter, Silver, and Williams.     

A Lagrangian representation of tangles

We construct a functor from the category of oriented tangles in R³ to the category of Hermitian modules and Lagrangian relations over Z[t,t^-1]. This functor extends the Burau representations of the braid groups and its generalization to string links due to Le Dimet.     

The Lappo-Danilevskii method and trivial intersections of radicals in lower central series terms for certain fundamental groups

In this paper, it is proved that the intersection of the radicals of nilpotent residues for the generalized pure braid group corresponding to an irreducible finite Coxeter group or an irreducible imprimitive finite complex reflection group is always trivial. The proof uses the solvability of the Riemann—Hilbert problem for analytic families of faithful linear representations by the Lappo-Danilevskii method. Generalized Burau representations are defined for the generalized braid groups corresponding to finite complex reflection groups whose Dynkin—Cohen graphs are trees. The Fuchsian connections for which the monodromy representations are equivalent to the restrictions of generalized Burau representations to pure braid groups are described. The question about the faithfulness of generalized Burau representations and their restrictions to pure braid groups is posed.     

Image of the braid groups inside the finite Temperley–Lieb algebras

We determine the image of the braid groups inside the Temperley–Lieb algebras, defined over finite field, in the semisimple case, and for suitably large (but controlable) order of the defining (quantum) parameter. We also prove that, under natural conditions on this parameter, the representations of the Hecke algebras over a finite field are unitary for the action of the braid groups.     

Monodromy of Fuchsian systems on complex linear spaces

On complex linear spaces, Fuchs-type Pfaffian systems are studied that are defined by configurations of vectors in these spaces. These systems are referred to as R-systems in this paper. For the vector configurations that are systems of roots of complex reflection groups, the monodromy representations of R-systems are described. These representations are deformations of the standard representations of reflection groups. Such deformations define representations of generalized braid groups corresponding to complex reflection groups and are similar to the Burau representations of the Artin braid groups.     

On the crossing number of positive knots and braids and braid index criteria of Jones and Morton-Williams-Franks

We give examples of knots with some unusual properties of the crossing number of positive diagrams or strand number of positive braid representations. In particular, we show that positive braid knots may not have positive minimal (strand number) braid representations, giving a counterpart to results of Franks-Williams and Murasugi. Other examples answer questions of Cromwell on homogeneous and (partially) of Adams on almost alternating knots.

We give a counterexample to, and a corrected version of, a theorem of Jones on the Alexander polynomial of 4-braid knots. We also give an example of a knot on which all previously applied braid index criteria fail to estimate sharply (from below) the braid index. A relation between (generalizations of) such examples and a conjecture of Jones that a minimal braid representation has unique writhe is discussed.

Finally, we give a counterexample to Morton's conjecture relating the genus and degree of the skein polynomial.

     

A Celtic Framework for Knots and Links

We describe a variant of a method used by modern graphic artists to design what are traditionally called Celtic knots, which are part of a larger family of designs called “mirror curves.” It is easily proved that every such design specifies an alternating projection of a link. We use medial graphs and graph minors to prove, conversely, that every alternating projection of a link is topologically equivalent to some Celtic link, specifiable by this method. We view Celtic representations of knots as a framework for organizing the study of knots, rather like knot mosaics or braid representations. The formalism of Celtic design suggests some new geometric invariants of links and some new recursively specifiable sequences of links. It also leads us to explore new variations of problems regarding such sequences, including calculating formulae for infinite sequences of knot polynomials. This involves a confluence of ideas from knot theory, topological graph theory, and the theory of orthogonal graph drawings.     

An action of subgroups of mapping class groups on polynomial algebras

We study a certain subgroup of the mapping class group of a surface with boundary by obtaining an action of this subgroup on a polynomial algebra. This action comes from a lift of the action of the subgroup on a trace algebra, Magnus having done a similar thing for the braid groups. We then investigate the invariant theory for this action and various representations that this action affords. In particular, we obtain finite permutation representations and infinite linear representations of these subgroups that are non-trivial on subgroups of the Torelli group.     

Criteria of prime links in terms of pseudo-characters

Pseudo-characters of groups have recently found applications in the theory of classical knots and links in ℝ³. More precisely, there is a connection between pseudo-characters of Artin’s braid groups and properties of links represented by braids. In the present work, this connection is investigated and the notion of kernel pseudo-characters of braid groups is introduced. It is proved that a kernel pseudo-character ϕ and a braid β satisfy Ιϕ(β)І > C _ϕ, where C _ϕ is the defect of ϕ, then β represents a prime link (i.e., a link that is noncomposite, nonsplit, and nontrivial). Furthermore, the space of braid group pseudo-characters is studied and a way to obtain nontrivial kernel pseudo-characters from an arbitrary braid group pseudo-character that is not a homomorphisrn is described. This allows one to use an arbitrary nontrivial braid group pseudo-character for recognition of prime knots and links. Bibliography: 17 titles.     

辫子群的全部二维不可约表示

通过直接解矩阵方程给出了Bn群的全部二维不可约表示．     

Monodromy Groups and Bilinear Monodromy Invariant Combinations of Generalized Hypergeometric Type Integrals

The problem of determining bilinear combinations of holomorphic and antiholomorphic generalized hypergeometric type integrals left invariant under the action of the monodromy groups of the integrals is studied. In the special cases of simple Pochhammer type integrals and of twofold hypergeometric type integrals the existence and uniqueness of the bilinear invariants are proved, and the bilinear invariants are explicitly computed. Preparing the tools it is shown how to linearize and iterate representations of the braid group B_n as automorphism groups of certain free subgroups of the braid group B_n+1, and how the resulting iterated linear representations of the braid group in a natural way provide an algorithm to compute the monodromy group of generalized hypergeometric type integrals. Explicit formulae for different types of integration contours are given in the case of simple and twofold integrals.     

On tensor representations of knot algebras

Summary The fact that a Yang-Baxter operator defines tensor representations of the Artin braid group has been used to construct knot invariants. The main purpose of this note is to extend the tensor representations of the Artin braid group to representations of the braid groupZ B _k associated to the Coxeter graphB _k. This extension is based on some fundamental identities for the standardR-matrices of quantum Lie theory, here called four braid relations. As an application, tensor representations of knot algebras of typeB (Hecke, Temperley-Lieb, Birman-Wenzl-Murakami) are derived.     

Tied monoids

We construct certain monoids, called tied monoids. These monoids result to be semidirect products finitely presented and commonly built from braid groups and their relatives acting on monoids of set partitions. The nature of our monoids indicate that they should give origin to new knot algebras; indeed, our tied monoids include the tied braid monoid and the tied singular braid monoid, which were used, respectively, to construct new polynomial invariants for classical links and singular links. Consequently, we provide a mechanism to attach an algebra to each tied monoid; this mechanism not only captures known generalizations of the bt-algebra, but also produces possible new knot algebras. To build the tied monoids it is necessary to have presentations of set partition monoids of types A, B and D, among others. For type A we use a presentation due to FitzGerald and for the other type it was necessary to built them.

     

Obstructions to trivializing a knot

The recent proof by Bigelow and Krammer that the braid groups are linear opens the possibility of applications to the study of knots and links. It was proved by the first author and Menasco that any closed braid representative of the unknot can be systematically simplified to a round planar circle by a finite sequence of exchange moves and reducing moves. In this paper we establish connections between the faithfulness of the Krammer-Lawrence representation and the problem of recognizing when the conjugacy class of a closed braid admits an exchange move or a reducing move.     

Combinatorial properties of virtual braids

We determine the lower central series of the virtual braid group VBn and of the kernels of two different projections of VBn in Sn: the normal closure of the Artin braid group Bn, that we will denote by Hn, and the so-called virtual pure braid group VPn, which is related to Yang Baxter equation. We describe relations between Hn and VPn and we provide a connection between virtual pure braids and the finite type invariant theory for virtual knots defined by Goussarov, Polyak and Viro.     

On representations and <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-theory of the braid groups

 Let Γ be the fundamental group of the complement of a K(Γ, 1) hyperplane arrangement (such as Artin's pure braid group) or more generally a homologically toroidal group as defined below. The triviality of bundles arising from orthogonal representations of Γ is characterized completely as follows. An orthogonal representation gives rise to a trivial bundle if and only if the representation factors through the spinor groups. Furthermore, the subgroup of elements in the complex K-theory of BΓ which arises from complex unitary representations of Γ is shown to be trivial. In the case of real K-theory, the subgroup of elements which arises from real orthogonal representations of Γ is an elementary abelian 2-group, which is characterized completely in terms of the first two Stiefel-Whitney classes of the representation. In addition, quadratic relations in the cohomology algebra of the pure braid groups which correspond precisely to the Jacobi identity for certain choices of Poisson algebras are shown to give the existence of certain homomorphisms from the pure braid group to generalized Heisenberg groups. These cohomology relations correspond to non-trivial Spin representations of the pure braid groups which give rise to trivial bundles. Received: 6 February 2002 / Revised version: 19 September 2002 / Published online: 8 April 2003 RID="⋆" ID="⋆" Partially supported by the NSF RID="⋆⋆" ID="⋆⋆" Partially supported by grant LEQSF(1999-02)-RD-A-01 from the Louisiana Board of Regents, and by grant MDA904-00-1-0038 from the National Security Agency RID="⋆" ID="⋆" Partially supported by the NSF Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 20F36, 32S22, 55N15, 55R50     

Invariants of knots,surfaces in R<Superscript>3</Superscript>, and foliations

We give a survey of some known results related to combinatorial and geometric properties of finite-order invariants of knots in a three-dimensional space. We study the relationship between Vassiliev invariants and some classical numerical invariants of knots and point out the role of surfaces in the investigation of these invariants. We also consider combinatorial and geometric properties of essential tori in standard position in closed braid complements by using the braid foliation technique developed by Birman, Menasco, and other authors. We study the reductions of link diagrams in the context of finding the braid index of links. __________ Translated from Ukrains’kyi Matematychnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 59, No. 9, pp. 1239–1252, September, 2007.