p-Adic framed braids

In this paper we define the p-adic framed braid group F∞,n, arising as the inverse limit of the modular framed braids. An element in F∞,n can be interpreted geometrically as an infinite framed cabling. F∞,n contains the classical framed braid group as a dense subgroup. This leads to a set of topological generators for F∞,n and to approximations for the p-adic framed braids. We further construct a p-adic Yokonuma-Hecke algebra Y∞,n(u) as the inverse limit of a family of classical Yokonuma-Hecke algebras. These are quotients of the modular framed braid groups over a quadratic relation. Finally, we give topological generators for Y∞,n(u).     

Flat connections on configuration spaces and braid groups of surfaces

We construct an explicit bundle with flat connection on the configuration space of n points on a complex curve. This enables one to recover the ‘1-formality’ isomorphism between the Lie algebra of the prounipotent completion of the pure braid group of n   points on a surface and an explicitly presented Lie algebra, and to extend it to a morphism from the full braid group of the surface to the semidirect product of the associated group with the symmetric group _Sn$S_n$.     

Braids and partial permutations

We study the inverse braid monoid IBn introduced by Easdown and Lavers in 2004. We completely describe the factorizable structure of IBn and use this to give a new proof of the Easdown-Lavers presentation; we also derive several new presentations, each of which gives rise to a new presentation of the symmetric inverse monoid. We then define and study the pure inverse braid monoid IPn which is related to IBn in the same way that the pure braid group is related to the braid group.     

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.     

Characteristics of Graph Braid Groups

We give formulae for the first homology of the n-braid group and the pure 2-braid group over a finite graph in terms of graph-theoretic invariants. As immediate consequences, a graph is planar if and only if the first homology of the n-braid group over the graph is torsion-free and the conjectures about the first homology of the pure 2-braid groups over graphs in Farber and Hanbury (arXiv:1005.2300 [math.AT]) can be verified. We discover more characteristics of graph braid groups: the n-braid group over a planar graph and the pure 2-braid group over any graph have a presentation whose relators are words of commutators, and the 2-braid group and the pure 2-braid group over a planar graph have a presentation whose relators are commutators. The latter was a conjecture in Farley and Sabalka (J. Pure Appl. Algebra, 2012) and so we propose a similar conjecture for higher braid indices.     

Twisted conjugacy in braid groups

In this note we solve the twisted conjugacy problem for braid groups, i.e., we propose an algorithm which, given two braids u, υ ∈ B _n and an automorphism φ ∈ Aut(B _n ), decides whether υ = (φ(x))^?1 ux for some x ∈ B _n . As a corollary, we deduce that each group of the form B _n ? H, a semidirect product of the braid group B _n by a torsion-free hyperbolic group H, has solvable conjugacy problem.     

Braid groups of non-orientable surfaces and the Fadell-Neuwirth short exact sequence

Let M be a compact, connected non-orientable surface without boundary and of genus g?3. We investigate the pure braid groups P_n(M) of M, and in particular the possible splitting of the Fadell-Neuwirth short exact sequence

     

Stable decompositions for some symmetric group characters arising in braid group cohomology

We prove that certain permutation characters for the symmetric group Σn decompose in a manner that is independent of n for large n. This result is a key ingredient in the recent work of T. Church and B. Farb, who obtain a “representation stability” theorem for the character of Σn acting on the cohomology Hp(Pn,C) of the pure braid group Pn.     

On Cohen braids

For a general connected surface M and an arbitrary braid α from the surface braid group B _n?1(M), we study the system of equations d ₁ β = … = d _n β = α, where the operation d _i is the removal of the ith strand. We prove that for M ≠ S ² and M ≠ ?P², this system of equations has a solution β ∈ B _n (M) if and only if d ₁ α = … = d _n?1 α. We call the set of braids satisfying the last system of equations Cohen braids. We study Cohen braids and prove that they form a subgroup. We also construct a set of generators for the group of Cohen braids. In the cases of the sphere and the projective plane we give some examples for a small number of strands.     

The D n generalized pure braid group

A corepresentation for the generalized pure braid group ID _n of the Coxeter group D _n is constructed. The lower central series of ID _n is investigated. It is proved that ID _n is approximable by torsion-free nilpotent groups, so R. Hain's obstruction to the solvability of the generalized Riemann-Hilbert problem is trivial for ID _n.     

Finite quotients of the pure symplectic braid group

We show how the finite symplectic groups arise as quotients of the pure symplectic braid group. Via [SV] certain of these groups — in particular, all groups Sp _n (2) — occur as Galois groups over ℚ. Supported by NSF grant DMS-9306479.     

A special class of tensor categories initiated by inverse braid monoids

In this paper, we introduce the concept of a wide tensor category which is a special class of a tensor category initiated by the inverse braid monoids recently investigated by Easdown and Lavers [The Inverse Braid Monoid, Adv. in Math. 186 (2004) 438-455].The inverse braid monoidsIB_n is an inverse monoid which behaves as the symmetric inverse semigroup so that the braid group B_n can be regarded as the braids acting in the symmetric group. In this paper, the structure of inverse braid monoids is explained by using the language of categories. A partial algebra category, which is a subcategory of the representative category of a bialgebra, is given as an example of wide tensor categories. In addition, some elementary properties of wide tensor categories are given. The main result is to show that for every strongly wide tensor category C, a strict wide tensor category C^str can be constructed and is wide tensor equivalent to C with a wide tensor equivalence F.As a generalization of the universality property of the braid category B, we also illustrate a wide tensor category through the discussion on the universality of the inverse braid category IB (see Theorem 3.3, 3.6 and Proposition 3.7).     

Linear Representations of the Braid Groups of Some Manifolds

In this paper we prove that the braid group B_n(S²) of 2-sphere, mapping class group M(0,n) of the n-punctured 2-sphere and the braid group B₃(P²) of the projective plane are linear. Partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant number 02-01-01118).Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000) 20F28, 20F36, 20G35.     

Graphical Calculus for the Double Affine Q-Dependent Braid Group

In this paper, we present a straightforward pictorial representation of the double affine Hecke algebra (DAHA) which enables us to translate the abstract algebraic structure of a DAHA into an intuitive graphical calculus suitable for a physics audience. Initially, we define the larger double affine Q-dependent braid group. This group is constructed by appending to the braid group a set of operators Q _i , before extending it to an affine Q-dependent braid group. We show specifically that the elliptic braid group and the DAHA can be obtained as quotient groups. Complementing this, we present a pictorial representation of the double affine Q-dependent braid group based on ribbons living in a toroid. We show that in this pictorial representation, we can fully describe any DAHA. Specifically, we graphically describe the parameter q upon which this algebra is dependent and show that in this particular representation q corresponds to a twist in the ribbon.     

Action of some braid groups on hodge algebras

In this paper we show that the braid groups B _n and the symmetric automorphism groups H(n) of the free group F _n,n = 3,4 act in a non-linear way on an algebra with straightening law (ordinal Hodge algebra). We indicate various properties of these rings.     

ON QUOTIENTS OF BRAID GROUPS

ABSTRACT.

Let G be the group ?[t, t ^?1] x ?. By studying the action of the braid group B_n on the set Gⁿ , we obtain representations of B_n into a wreath product of the symmetric group and the general linear group over ?[t, t ^?1]. This in particular recovers the Burau representation of the braid group. Furthermore, some quotients of the braid group are obtained by using the representations found.     

Involutions in Weyl group of type <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis><Subscript>4</Subscript>

Let W be the Weyl group of type F ₄: We explicitly describe a finite set of basic braid I _*-transformations and show that any two reduced I _*-expressions for a given involution in W can be transformed into each other through a series of basic braid I _*-transformations. Our main result extends the earlier work on the Weyl groups of classical types (i.e., A _n , B _n , and D _n ).     

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.