These are the notes of the lectures delivered by the author at CIME in June 2018. The main purpose of the notes is to provide an overview of the techniques used in the construction of the triply graded link homology. The homology is space of global sections of a particular sheaf on the Hilbert scheme of points on the plane. Our construction relies on existence on the natural push-forward functor for the equivariant matrix factorizations, we explain the subtleties on the construction in these notes. We also outline a proof of the Markov moves for our homology as well as some explicit localization formulas for knot homology of a large class of links.
A well-known conjecture of Rasmussen states that for any knot $K$ in $S^{3}$, the rank of the reduced Khovanov homology of $K$ is greater than or equal to the rank of the reduced knot Floer homology of $K$. This rank inequality is supposed to arise as the result of a spectral sequence from Khovanov homology to knot Floer homology. Using an oriented cube of resolutions construction for a homology theory related to knot Floer homology, we prove this conjecture.
We review some recent results in knot concordance and homology cobordism. The proofs rely on various forms of Heegaard Floer homology. We also discuss related open problems.
Using Dowlin's spectral sequence from Khovanov homology to knot Floer homology, we prove that reduced Khovanov homology (over $\mathbb{Q}$) detects the figure-eight knot.
We conjecture that the stable Khovanov homology of torus knots can be described as the Koszul homology of an explicit non-regular sequence of quadratic polynomials. The corresponding Poincare series turns out to be related to the Rogers-Ramanujan identity.
Knot Floer homology is an invariant for knots in the three-sphere for which the Euler characteristic is the Alexander-Conway polynomial of the knot. The aim of this paper is to study this homology for a class of satellite knots, so as to see how a certain relation between the Alexander-Conway polynomials of the satellite, companion and pattern is generalized on the level of the knot Floer homology. We also use our observations to study a classical geometric invariant, the Seifert genus, of our satellite knots.
In this paper, we compute the symplectic Floer homology of the figure eight knot. This provides first nontrivial knot with trivial symplectic Floer homology.
Ng constructed an invariant of knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, a combinatorial knot contact homology. Extending his study, we construct an invariant of surface-knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^4$ using marked graph diagrams.
We prove that the rank of knot Floer homology detects the Hopf links, and generalize this result further to classify the links of the second smallest knot Floer homology. We also prove a knot Floer homology analog of arXiv:1910.04246v1 [math.GT] and give a partial answer to when the equality holds in the rank inequality between the knot Floer homology of a link and its sublinks.
We show that if a positive integral surgery on a knot K inside a homology sphere X with Seifert genus g(K) results in an induced knot K_n in X_n(K)=Y which has simple Floer homology, we should have n>=2g(K). Moreover, if X is the standard sphere, the three-manifold Y is a L-space and the Heegaard Floer homology groups of K are determined by its Alexander polynomial.
Ng constructed an invariant of knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, a combinatorial knot contact homology. Extending his study, we construct an invariant of surface-knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^4$ using diagrams in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$.
Knot contact homology is an invariant of knots derived from Legendrian contact homology which has numerous connections to the knot group. We use basic properties of knot groups to prove that knot contact homology detects every torus knot. Further, if the knot contact homology of a knot is isomorphic to that of a cable (respectively composite) knot, then the knot is a cable (respectively composite).
We present a combinatorial method for a calculation of knot Floer homology with Z-coefficient of (1,1)-knots, and then demonstrate it for non-alternating (1,1)-knots with ten crossings and the pretzel knots of type (-2,m,n). Our calculations determine the unknotting numbers and 4-genera of the pretzel knots of this type.
In this paper, we introduce a sequence of invariants of a knot K in S^3: the knot Floer homology groups of the preimage of K in the m-fold cyclic branched cover over K. We exhibit the knot Floer homology in the m-fold branched cover as the categorification of a multiple of the Turaev torsion in the case where the m-fold branched cover is a rational homology sphere. In addition, when K is a 2-bridge knot, we prove that the knot Floer homology of the lifted knot in a particular Spin^c structure in the branched double cover matches the knot Floer homology of the original knot K in S^3. We conclud…
Knotoids were introduced by V. Turaev as open-ended knot-type diagrams that generalize knots. Turaev defined a two-variable polynomial invariant of knotoids which encompasses a generalization of the Jones knot polynomial to knotoids. We define a triply-graded homological invariant of knotoids categorifying the Turaev polynomial, called winding homology. Forgetting one of the three gradings gives a generalization of the Khovanov knot homology to knotoids.
Any knot in $S^3$ may be reduced to a slice knot by crossing changes. Indeed, this slice knot can be taken to be the unknot. In this paper we study the question of when the same holds for knots in homology spheres. We show that a knot in a homology sphere is nullhomotopic in a smooth homology ball if and only if that knot is smoothly concordant to a knot which is homotopic to a smoothly slice knot. As a consequence, we prove that the equivalence relation on knots in homology spheres given by cobounding immersed annuli in a homology cobordism is generated by concordance in homology cobordisms t…
We show that if K is a non-trivial knot inside a homology sphere X, the rank of the knot Floer homology group associated with K is strictly bigger than the rank of the Heegaard Floer homology group associated with X.
It is known that knot Floer homology detects the genus and Alexander polynomial of a knot. We investigate whether knot Floer homology of $K$ detects more structure of minimal genus Seifert surfaces for $K$. We define an invariant of algebraically slice, genus one knots and provide examples to show that knot Floer homology does not detect this invariant. Finally, we remark that certain metabelian $L^2$-signatures bound this invariant from below.
We define Floer homology theories for oriented, singular knots in S^3 and show that one of these theories can be defined combinatorially for planar singular knots.
We show that the knot lattice homology of a knot in an L-space is equivalent to the knot Floer homology of the same knot (viewed these invariants as filtered chain complexes over the polynomial ring Z/2Z [U]). Suppose that G is a negative definite plumbing tree which contains a vertex w such that G-w is a union of rational graphs. Using the identification of knot homologies we show that for such graphs the lattice homology HF(G)$ is isomorphic to the Heegaard Floer homology HF^-(Y_G) of the corresponding rational homology sphere Y_G.
The $0$-surgeries of two knots $K_1$ and $K_2$ are homology cobordant rel meridians if there exists a $\mathbb{Z}$-homology cobordism $X$ between them such that the two knot meridians are in the same homology class in $H_{1}(X,\mathbb{Z})$. In this paper, we give a pair of rationally slice knots which are not smoothly concordant but whose $0$-surgeries are homology cobordant rel meridians. One knot in the pair is the figure eight knot, which has concordance order two; all previous examples of such pairs of knots are infinite order.
We exhibit an infinite family of knots with isomorphic knot Heegaard Floer homology. Each knot in this infinite family admits a nontrivial genus two mutant which shares the same total dimension in both knot Floer homology and Khovanov homology. Each knot is distinguished from its genus two mutant by both knot Floer homology and Khovanov homology as bigraded groups. Additionally, for both knot Heegaard Floer homology and Khovanov homology, the genus two mutation interchanges the groups in $δ$-gradings $k$ and $-k$.
In this paper, we compute the Khovanov homology over \Q for (p,-p,q) pretzel knots for odd values of p from 3 to 15 and arbitrarily large q. We provide a conjecture for the general form of the Khovanov homology of (p,-p,q) pretzel knots. These computations reveal that these knots have thin Khovanov homology (over \Q and \Z). Because Greene has shown that these knots are not quasi-alternating, this provides an infinite class of non-quasi-alternating knots with thin Khovanov homology.
We propose an algebraic model of the conjectural triply graded homology of Gukov, Dunfield and Rasmussen for some torus knots. It turns out to be related to the q,t-Catalan numbers of Garsia and Haiman.
This note explores two questions: (1) Which bigraded groups arise as the knot Floer homology of a knot in the three-sphere? (2) Given a knot, how many distinct knots share its Floer homology? Regarding the first, we show there exist bigraded groups satisfying all previously known constraints of knot Floer homology which do not arise as the invariant of a knot. This leads to a new constraint for knots admitting lens space surgeries, as well as a proof that the rank of knot Floer homology detects the trefoil knot. For the second, we show that any non-trivial band sum of two unknots gives rise to…
Given an equivariant knot $K$ of order $2$, we study the induced action of the symmetry on the knot Floer homology. We relate this action with the induced action of the symmetry on the Heegaard Floer homology of large surgeries on $K$. This surgery formula can be thought of as an equivariant analog of the involutive large surgery formula proved by Hendricks and Manolescu. As a consequence, we obtain that for certain double branched covers of $S^{3}$ and corks, the induced action of the involution on Heegaard Floer homology can be identified with an action on the knot Floer homology. As an appl…
Let $\widetilde{K}$ be a 2-periodic knot in $S^3$ with quotient $K$. We prove a rank inequality between the knot Floer homology of $\widetilde{K}$ and the knot Floer homology of $K$ using a spectral sequence of Hendricks, Lipshitz and Sarkar. We also conjecture a filtered refinement of this inequality, for which we give computational evidence, and produce applications to the Alexander polynomials of $\widetilde{K}$ and $K$.
In this paper we study the knot Floer homology of a subfamily of twisted $(p, q)$ torus knots where $q \equiv\pm1$ (mod $p$). Specifically, we classify the knots in this subfamily that admit L-space surgeries. To do calculations, we use the fact that these knots are $(1, 1)$ knots and, therefore, admit a genus one Heegaard diagram.
This paper gives a new obstruction for ribbon-move equivalence of 2-knots. Let $K$ and $K'$ be 2-knots. Let $K$ and $K'$ are ribbon-move equivalent. One corollary to our main theorem is as follows. A 2-dimensional fibered knot whose fiber is the punctured 3-dimensional torus is not ribbon-move equivalent to any 2-dimensional knot whose Seifert hypersurface is a punctured homology sphere.
We develop a method of calculation for the symplectic Floer homology of composite knots. The symplectic Floer homology of knots defined in \cite{li} naturally admits an integer graded lifting, and it formulates a filtration and induced spectral sequence. Such a spectral sequence converges to the symplectic homology of knots in \cite{li}. We show that there is another spectral sequence which converges to the $\Z$-graded symplectic Floer homology for composite knots represented by braids.
The (untwisted) oriented cube of resolutions for knot Floer homology assigns a complex $C_{F}(S)$ to a singular resolution $S$ of a knot $K$. Manolescu conjectured that when $S$ is in braid position, the homology $H_{*}(C_{F}(S))$ is isomorphic to the HOMFLY-PT homology of $S$. Together with a naturality condition on the induced edge maps, this conjecture would prove the spectral sequence from HOMFLY-PT homology to knot Floer homology. Using a basepoint filtration on $C_{F}(S)$, a recursion formula for HOMFLY-PT homology, and additional $sl_{n}$-like differentials on $C_{F}(S)$, we prove this …
Hedden defined two knots in each lens space that, through analogies with their knot Floer homology and doubly pointed Heegaard diagrams of genus one, may be viewed as generalizations of the two trefoils in S^3. Rasmussen shows that when the `left-handed' one is in the homology class of the dual to a Berge knot of type VII, it admits an L-space homology sphere surgery. In this note we give a simple proof that these L-space homology spheres are always the Poincaré homology sphere.
We extend an approach of Beliakova for computing knot Floer homology and implement it in a publicly available computer program. We review the main programming and optimization methods used. Our program is then used to check that the Floer homology of a prime non-alternating knot with less than 12 crossings has no torsion.
In this paper we introduce a representation of a embedded knotted (sometimes Lagrangian) tori in $\BR^4$ called a hypercube diagram, i.e., a 4-dimensional cube diagram. We prove the existence of hypercube homology that is invariant under 4-dimensional cube diagram moves, a homology that is based on knot Floer homology. We provide examples of hypercube diagrams and hypercube homology, including using the new invariant to distinguish (up to cube moves) two "Hopf linked" tori. We also give examples of a "Trefoil" torus and an immersed knotted torus that is an amalgamation of the $5_2$ knot and a …
For each partial flag manifold of SU(N), we define a Floer homology theory for knots in 3-manifolds, using instantons with codimension-2 singularities.
The paper contains an essentially self-contained treatment of Khovanov homology, Khovanov-Lee homology as well as the Rasmussen invariant for virtual knots and virtual knot cobordisms which directly applies to classical knot and classical knot cobordisms. To do so, we give an alternate formulation for the Manturov definition of Khovanov homology for virtual knots and links with arbitrary coefficients. This approach uses cut loci on the knot diagram to induce a conjugation operator in the Frobenius algebra. We then discuss the implications of the maps induced in the aforementioned theory to the…
In this note, we show that if there is a knot in $S^3$ having $\mathbb{Z}_m$ torsion in its Khovanov homology, then there are infinitely many hyperbolic knots and infinitely many prime satellite knots having $\mathbb{Z}_m$ torsion in their Khovanov homology. As an application, we give the first known examples of hyperbolic knots and links with odd (and other non-$\mathbb{Z}_2$ torsion) in their Khovanov homology.
In this paper we define and investigate Z/2-homology cobordism invariants of Z/2-homology 3-spheres which turn out to be related to classical invariants of knots. As an application we show that many lens spaces have infinite order in the Z/2-homology cobordism group and we prove a lower bound for the slice genus of a knot on which integral surgery yields a given Z/2-homology sphere. We also give some new examples of 3-manifolds which cannot be obtained by integral surgery on a knot.
Let $K$ denote a knot inside the homology sphere $Y$ and $K'$ denote a knot inside a homology sphere $L$-space. Let $X=Y(K,K')$ denote the 3-manifold obtained by splicing the complements of $K$ and $K'$. We show that $\text{rank}(\widehat{HF}(X)) \ge \text{rank}(\widehat{HF}(Y))$.
We give a recipe for constructing families of distinct knots that have identical Khovanov homology and give examples of pairs of prime knots, as well as infinite families, with this property.
We develop a skein exact sequence for knot Floer homology, involving singular knots. This leads to an explicit, algebraic description of knot Floer homology in terms of a braid projection of the knot.
Using a Heegaard diagram for the pullback of a knot $K \subset S^3$ in its cyclic branched cover $Σ_m(K)$ obtained from a grid diagram for $K$, we give a combinatorial proof for the invariance of the associated combinatorial knot Floer homology over $\mathbb{Z}$.
Ozsváth and Szabó conjectured that knot Floer homology detects fibred knots in $S^3$. We will prove this conjecture for null-homologous knots in arbitrary closed 3--manifolds. Namely, if $K$ is a knot in a closed 3--manifold $Y$, $Y-K$ is irreducible, and $\hat{HFK}(Y,K)$ is monic, then $K$ is fibred. The proof relies on previous works due to Gabai, Ozsváth--Szabó, Ghiggini and the author. A corollary is that if a knot in $S^3$ admits a lens space surgery, then the knot is fibred.
A companion paper to "On knot Floer homology in branched double covers" applied to braided branched loci. We reprove the main result of that paper concerning alternating branched loci when projected to an annulus, without using Khovanov homology. This provides two advantages: 1) the results hold for integer coefficients and 2) the spin^c structures are more readily discernable. We apply this result to a branch locus which is a braid, and use the braid structure to find information about a fibered knot in the branched double cover. In some cases this provides all the information about the knot …
We define homology of ternary algebras satisfying axioms derived from particle scattering or, equivalently, from the third Reidemeister move. We show that ternary quasigroups satisfying these axioms appear naturally in invariants of Reidemeister, Yoshikawa, and Roseman moves. Our homology has a degenerate subcomplex. The normalized homology yields invariants of knots and knotted surfaces.
This note corrects the mistakes in the splicing formulas of the paper "Floer homology and splicing knot complements". The mistakes are the result of the incorrect assumption that for a knot $K$ inside a homology sphere $Y$, the involution on the knot Floer homology of $K$ which corresponds to moving the basepoints by one full twist around $K$ is trivial. The correction implicitly involves considering the contribution from this (possibly non-trivial) involution in a number of places.
Using the combinatorial approach to knot Floer homology, we define an invariant for Legendrian knots in the three-sphere, which takes values in link Floer homology. This invariant can be used to also construct an invariant of transverse knots.
Using a Heegaard diagram for the pullback of a knot $K \subset S^3$ in its cyclic double branched cover $Σ_2(K)$, we give a combinatorial proof for the invariance of knot Floer homology over $\mathbb{Z}$.
We prove that the Knot Floer homology group of a fibred knot of genus g in the Alexander grading 1-g is isomorphic to a version of the fixed point Floer homology of an area-preserving representative of the monodromy.
In this paper we compute the signature for a family of knots $W(k,n)$, the weaving knots of type $(k,n)$. By work of E.~S.~Lee the signature calculation implies a vanishing theorem for the Khovanov homology of weaving knots. Specializing to knots $W(3,n)$, we develop recursion relations that enable us to compute the Jones polynomial of $W(3,n)$. Using additional results of Lee, we compute the ranks of the Khovanov Homology of these knots. At the end we provide evidence for our conjecture that, asymptotically, the ranks of Khovanov Homology of $W(3,n)$ are {\it normally distributed}.
