Khovanov homology and causality in spacetimes

A geometric spectral sequence in Khovanov homology

The aim of this paper is to introduce and study a geometric spectral sequence in Khovanov homology. The construction was motivated by a similar spectral sequence from Khovanov homology to Heegaard Floer homology.

Khovanov-Rozansky Homology and Conway Mutation

We show that the reduced sl(n) homology defined by Khovanov and Rozansky is invariant under component-preserving positive mutation when n is odd.

Equivariant annular Khovanov homology

We construct an equivariant version of annular Khovanov homology via the Frobenius algebra associated with $U(1) \times U(1)$-equivariant cohomology of $\mathbb{CP}^1$. Motivated by the relationship between the Temperley-Lieb algebra and annular Khovanov homology, we also introduce an equivariant analogue of the Temperley-Lieb algebra.

A computation in Khovanov-Rozansky Homology

We investigate the Khovanov-Rozansky invariant of a certain tangle and its compositions. Surprisingly the complexes we encounter reduce to ones that are very simple. Furthermore, we discuss a "local" algorithm for computing Khovanov-Rozansky homology and compare our results with those for the "foam" version of sl_3-homology.

Khovanov homology for an unnormalized Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant and 3-manifolds

A problem about Khovanov homology and 3-manifolds is discussed in this paper.

Sutured Khovanov homology, Hochschild homology, and the Ozsvath-Szabo spectral sequence

In 2001, Khovanov and Seidel constructed a faithful action of the (m+1)-strand braid group on the derived category of left modules over a quiver algebra, A_m. We interpret the Hochschild homology of the Khovanov-Seidel braid invariant as a direct summand of the sutured Khovanov homology of the annular braid closure.

Decomposition of the first Vassiliev derivative of Khovanov homology and its application

Khovanov homology extends to singular links via a categorified analogue of Vassiliev skein relation. In view of Vassiliev theory, the extended Khovanov homology can be seen as Vassiliev derivatives of Khovanov homology. In this paper, we develop a new method to compute the first derivative. Namely, we introduce a complex, called a crux complex, and prove that the Khovanov homologies of singular links with unique double points are homotopic to cofibers of endomorphisms on crux complexes. Since crux complexes are actually small for some links, the result enables a direct computation of the first…

Khovanov homology for links in thickened multipunctured disks

We define a variant of Khovanov homology for links in thickened disks with multiple punctures. This theory is distinct from the one previously defined by Asaeda, Przytycki, and Sikora, but is related to it by a spectral sequence. Additionally, we show that there are spectral sequences induced by embeddings of thickened surfaces, which recover the spectral sequence from annular Khovanov homology to Khovanov homology as a special case.

Khovanov同调札记

Notes on Khovanov homology

本文是一份研究生专题课程讲义，系统介绍Khovanov同调及其相关不变量，涵盖Jones多项式、Bar-Natan配边范畴、谱序列、稳定同伦型和skein lasagna模等主题。

The homotopy theory of Khovanov homology

We show that the unnormalised Khovanov homology of an oriented link can be identified with the derived functors of the inverse limit. This leads to a homotopy theoretic interpretation of Khovanov homology.

Computing annular Khovanov homology

We define a third grading on Khovanov homology, which is an invariant of annular links but changes by $\pm 1$ under stabilization. We illustrate the use of our computer implementation, and give some example calculations.

强可逆纽结及其商纽结的Khovanov同调

Khovanov homology of strongly invertible knots and their quotients

本文通过构造联系强可逆纽结与其商纽结的谱序列，重新证明Khovanov同调可区分某些切片圆盘，并给出分支二重覆盖的Heegaard Floer同调类比结果。

On Reidemeister invariance of the Khovanov homology group of the Jones polynomial

As Oleg Viro describes in his paper, the most fundamental property of the Khovanov homology group is their invariance under Reidemeister moves. Viro constructes Khovanov complex and homology consisting of Jordan curves with sign and also gives a proof for the only case of first Reidemeister move by using his definition of Khovanov homology groups. In this paper, homotopy maps are obtained explicitly for the other Reidemeister moves, i.e. second and third.

Wall-Crossing Morphisms in Khovanov-Rozansky Homology

We define a wall-crossing morphism for Khovanov-Rozansky homology; that is, a map between the KR homology of knots related by a crossing change. Using this map, we extend KR homology to an invariant of singular knots categorifying the Vasilliev derivative of the HOMFLY polynomial, and of $\mathfrak{sl}_n$ quantum invariants.

Khovanov homology detects $T(2,6)$

We show if $L$ is any link in $S^3$ whose Khovanov homology is isomorphic to the Khovanov homology of $T(2,6)$ then $L$ is isotopic to $T(2,6)$. We show this for unreduced Khovanov homology with $\mathbb{Z}$ coefficients.

Khovanov-Rozansky Graph Homology and Composition Product

In analogy with a recursive formula for the HOMFLY-PT polynomial of links given by Jaeger, we give a recursive formula for the graph polynomial introduced by Kauffman and Vogel. We show how this formula extends to the Khovanov-Rozansky graph homology.

Contributions to Khovanov Homology

Khovanov homology ist a new link invariant, discovered by M. Khovanov, and used by J. Rasmussen to give a combinatorial proof of the Milnor conjecture. In this thesis, we give examples of mutant links with different Khovanov homology. We prove that Khovanov's chain complex retracts to a subcomplex, whose generators are related to spanning trees of the Tait graph, and we exploit this result to investigate the structure of Khovanov homology for alternating knots. Further, we extend Rasmussen's invariant to links. Finally, we generalize Khovanov's categorifications of the colored Jones polynomial…

Concordance invariants from $U(1) \times U(1)$-equivariant Khovanov homology

We study Khovanov homology over the Frobenius algebra $\mathbb{F}[U,V,X]/((X-U)(X-V))$, or $U(1) \times U(1)$-equivariant Khovanov homology, and extract two families of concordance invariants using the algebraic $U$-power and $V$-power filtrations on the chain complex. We also further develop the reduced version of the theory and study its behavior under mirroring.

Chain homotopy maps and a universal differential for Khovanov-type homology

We give chain homotopy maps of Khovanov-type link homology of a universal differential. The universal differential, discussed by Mikhail Khovanov, Marco Mackaay, Paul Turner and Pedro Vaz, contains the original Khovanov's differential and Lee's differential. We also consider the conditions of any differential ensuring the Reidemeister invariance for the chain homotopy maps.

A spanning tree model for Khovanov homology

We use a spanning tree model to prove a result of E. S. Lee on the support of Khovanov homology of alternating knots.

Five Lectures on Khovanov Homology

These lecture notes, which were designed for the Summer School "Heegaard-Floer Homology and Khovanov Homology" in Marseilles, 29th May - 2nd June, 2006, provide an elementary introduction to Khovanov homology. The intended audience is graduate students with some minimal background in low-dimensional and algebraic topology. The lectures cover the basic definitions, important properties, a number of variants and some applications. At the end of each lecture the reader is referred to the relevant literature for further reading.

A Remark on Roberts' Totally Twisted Khovanov Homology

We offer an alternative construction of Roberts' totally twisted Khovanov homology and prove that it agrees with delta-graded reduced characteristic-2 Khovanov homology.

Sutured annular Khovanov homology and two periodic braids

Let $\widetilde{K}$ be a two-periodic braid and let $K$ be its quotient. In this paper we show there is a spectral sequence from the next-to-top winding number grading of the sutured annular Khovanov homology of the closure of $\widetilde{K}$ to the next-to-top winding number grading of the sutured annular Khovanov homology of the closure of $K$.

A hitchhiker's guide to Khovanov homology

These notes from the 2014 summer school Quantum Topology at the CIRM in Luminy attempt to provide a rough guide to a selection of developments in Khovanov homology over the last fifteen years.

Khovanov homology detects the figure-eight knot

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.

A refinement of Khovanov-Rozansky link homology

This paper has been withdrawn by the author due to an error in the proof of Theorem 1.

Khovanov-Rozansky homology of two-bridge knots and links

We compute the reduced version of Khovanov and Rozansky's sl(N) homology for two-bridge knots and links. The answer is expressed in terms of the HOMFLY polynomial and signature.

A Kirby color for Khovanov homology

We construct a Kirby color in the setting of Khovanov homology: an ind-object of the annular Bar-Natan category that is equipped with a natural handle slide isomorphism. Using functoriality and cabling properties of Khovanov homology, we define a Kirby-colored Khovanov homology that is invariant under the handle slide Kirby move, up to isomorphism. Via the Manolescu--Neithalath 2-handle formula, Kirby-colored Khovanov homology agrees with the $\mathfrak{gl}_{2}$ skein lasagna module, hence is an invariant of $4$-dimensional $2$-handlebodies.

Odd Khovanov homology is mutation invariant

We define a link homology theory that is readily seen to be both isomorphic to reduced odd Khovanov homology and fully determined by data impervious to Conway mutation. This gives an elementary proof that odd Khovanov homology is mutation invariant, and therefore that mod 2 Khovanov homology is mutation invariant. We also establish mutation invariance for the entire Ozsvath-Szabo spectral sequence from reduced Khovanov homology to the Heegaard Floer homology of the branched double cover.

Some differentials on Khovanov-Rozansky homology

We study the relationship between the HOMFLY and sl(N) knot homologies introduced by Khovanov and Rozansky. For each N>0, we show there is a spectral sequence which starts at the HOMFLY homology and converges to the sl(N) homology. As an application, we determine the KR-homology of knots with 9 crossings or fewer.

On Gradings in Khovanov homology and sutured Floer homology

We discuss generalizations of Ozsvath-Szabo's spectral sequence relating Khovanov homology and Heegaard Floer homology, focusing attention on an explicit relationship between natural Z (resp., 1/2 Z) gradings appearing in the two theories. These two gradings have simple representation-theoretic (resp., geometric) interpretations, which we also review.

A Link Splitting Spectral Sequence in Khovanov Homology

We construct a new spectral sequence beginning at the Khovanov homology of a link and converging to the Khovanov homology of the disjoint union of its components. The page at which the sequence collapses gives a lower bound on the splitting number of the link, the minimum number of times its components must be passed through one another in order to completely separate them. In addition, we build on work of Kronheimer-Mrowka and Hedden-Ni to show that Khovanov homology detects the unlink.

Spanning trees and Khovanov homology

The Jones polynomial can be expressed in terms of spanning trees of the graph obtained by checkerboard coloring a knot diagram. We show there exists a complex generated by these spanning trees whose homology is the reduced Khovanov homology. The spanning trees provide a filtration on the reduced Khovanov complex and a spectral sequence that converges to its homology. For alternating links, all differentials on the spanning tree complex are zero and the reduced Khovanov homology is determined by the Jones polynomial and signature. We prove some analogous theorems for (unreduced) Khovanov homolo…

An Exceptional Collection For Khovanov Homology

The Temperley-Lieb algebra is a fundamental component of SU(2) topological quantum field theories. We construct chain complexes corresponding to minimal idempotents in the Temperley-Lieb algebra. Our results apply to the framework which determines Khovanov homology. Consequences of our work include semi-orthogonal decompositions of categorifications of Temperley-Lieb algebras and Postnikov decompositions of all Khovanov tangle invariants.

Khovanov homology and the slice genus

We use Lee's work on the Khovanov homology to define a knot invariant s. We show that s(K) is a concordance invariant and that it provides a lower bound for the slice genus of K. As a corollary, we give a purely combinatorial proof of the Milnor conjecture.

An action of gl(1|1) on odd annular Khovanov homology

We define an annular version of odd Khovanov homology and prove that it carries an action of the Lie superalgebra $\mathfrak{gl}(1|1)$ which is preserved under annular Reidemeister moves.

A note on Gornik's perturbation of Khovanov-Rozansky homology

We show that the information contained in the associated graded vector space to Gornik's version of Khovanov-Rozansky knot homology is equivalent to a single even integer s_n(K). Furthermore we show that s_n is a homomorphism from the smooth knot concordance group to the integers. This is in analogy with Rasmussen's invariant coming from a perturbation of Khovanov homology.

Reduced 2-coloured Khovanov Homology detects the Trefoil

We prove that the reduced 2-coloured Khovanov homology detects the trefoil, using a spectral sequence to knot Floer homology.

A Turaev surface approach to Khovanov homology

We introduce Khovanov homology for ribbon graphs and show that the Khovanov homology of a certain ribbon graph embedded on the Turaev surface of a link is isomorphic to the Khovanov homology of the link (after a grading shift). We also present a spanning quasi-tree model for the Khovanov homology of a ribbon graph.

Calculating Bar-Natan's characteristic two Khovanov homology

We investigate Bar-Natan's characteristic two Khovanov link homology theory studying both the filtered and bi-graded theories. The filtered theory is computed explicitly and the bi-graded theory analysed by setting up a family of spectral sequences. The E_2-pages can be described in terms of groups arising from the action of a certain endomorphism on mod 2 Khovanov homology. Some simple consequences are discussed.

A spectral sequence in odd Khovanov homology (Eine Spektralsequenz in ungerader Khovanov-Homologie)

Ozsvath, Rasmussen and Szabo constructed odd Khovanov homology. It is a link invariant which has the same reduction modulo 2 as (even) Khovanov homology. Szabo introduced a spectral sequence with mod 2 coefficients from mod 2 Khovanov homology to another link homology. He got his spectral sequence from a chain complex with a filtration. We give an integral lift of Szabo's complex, that provides a spectral sequence from odd Khovanov homology to a link homology, from which one can get Szabo's link homology with the Universal Coefficient Theorem. Szabo has constructed such a lift independently, b…

Khovanov homology and diagonalisable Frobenius algebras

We give a short elementary proof that a Khovanov-type link homology constructed from a diagonalisable Frobenius algebra is degenerate.

A note on Khovanov-Rozansky $sl_2$-homology and ordinary Khovanov homology

In this note we present an explicit isomorphism between Khovanov-Rozansky $sl_2$-homology and ordinary Khovanov homology. This result was originally stated in Khovanov and Rozansky's paper \cite{KRI}, though the details have yet to appear in the literature. The main missing detail is providing a coherent choice of signs when identifying variables in the $sl_2$-homology. Along with the behavior of the signs and local orientations in the $sl_2$-homology, both theories behave differently when we try to extend their definitions to virtual links, which seemed to suggest that the $sl_2$-homology may…

When the theories meet: Khovanov homology as Hochschild homology of links

We show that Khovanov homology and Hochschild homology theories share common structure. In fact they overlap: Khovanov homology of a $(2,n)$-torus link can be interpreted as a Hochschild homology of the algebra underlining the Khovanov homology. In the classical case of Khovanov homology we prove the concrete connection. In the general case of Khovanov-Rozansky, $sl(n)$, homology and their deformations we conjecture the connection. The best framework to explore our ideas is to use a comultiplication-free version of Khovanov homology for graphs developed by L. Helme-Guizon and Y. Rong and exten…

Computations of the Lipshitz-Sarkar Steenrod Square on Khovanov Homology

Lipshitz and Sarkar recently introduced a space-level refinement of Khovanov homology. This refinement induces a Steenrod square operation $\Sq^2$ on Khovanov homology which they describe explicitly. This paper presents some computations of $\Sq^2$. In particular, we give examples of links with identical integral Khovanov homology but with distinct Khovanov homotopy types.

Odd Khovanov homology of principally unimodular bipartite graph-links

We define integral odd Khovanov homology of principally unimodular bipartite graph-links.

On Sutured Khovanov Homology and Axis-Preserving Mutations

This paper establishes that sutured annular Khovanov homology is not invariant for braid closures under axis-preserving mutations. This follows from an explicit relationship between sutured annular Khovanov homology and the classical Burau representation for braid closures.

量子拓扑Hochschild同调与环状Khovanov谱

Quantum topological Hochschild homology and annular Khovanov spectra

本文提出量子拓扑Hochschild同调（qTHH）并构建其稳定同调细化，用于量子环状Khovanov同调的构造，证明其与现有理论一致。

An elementary construction of Khovanov-Rozansky type link homology

In this article, we give an elementary construction of homological invariants of links presented by braid closures. The Euler characteristic of this complex is equal to quantum polynomial invariant of link.

Patterns in odd Khovanov homology

We investigate properties of the odd Khovanov homology, compare and contrast them with those of the original (even) Khovanov homology, and discuss applications of the odd Khovanov homology to other areas of knot theory and low-dimensional topology. We show that it provides an effective upper bound on the Thurston-Bennequin number of Legendrian links and can be used to detect quasi-alternating knots. A potential application to detecting transversely non-simple knots is also mentioned.

Sutured annular Khovanov-Rozansky homology

We introduce an sl(n) homology theory for knots and links in the thickened annulus. To do so, we first give a fresh perspective on sutured annular Khovanov homology, showing that its definition follows naturally from trace decategorifications of enhanced sl(2) foams and categorified quantum gl(m), via classical skew Howe duality. This framework then extends to give our annular sl(n) link homology theory, which we call sutured annular Khovanov-Rozansky homology. We show that the sl(n) sutured annular Khovanov-Rozansky homology of an annular link carries an action of the Lie algebra sl(n), which…

Remarks on definition of Khovanov homology

Mikhail Khovanov in math.QA/9908171 defined, for a diagram of an oriented classical link, a collection of groups numerated by pairs of integers. These groups were constructed as homology groups of certain chain complexes. The Euler characteristics of these complexes are coefficients of the Jones polynomial of the link. The goal of this note is to rewrite this construction in terms more friendly to topologists. A version of Khovanov homology for framed links is introduced. For framed links whose Kauffman brackets are involved in a skein relation, these homology groups are related by an exact se…

Instantons and Annular Khovanov Homology

In this paper, we introduce the annular instanton Floer homology which is defined for links in a thickened annulus. It is an analogue of the annular Khovanov homology. A spectral sequence whose second page is the annular Khovanov homology and which converges to the annular instanton Floer homology is constructed. As an application of this spectral sequence, we prove that the annular Khovanov homology detects the unlink in the thickened annulus (assuming all the components are null-homologous). Another application is a new proof of Grigsby and Ni's result that tangle Khovanov homology distingui…

An integral lift, starting in odd Khovanov homology, of Szabó's spectral sequence

Ozsváth, Rasmussen and Szabó constructed odd Khovanov homology. It is a link invariant which has the same reduction modulo 2 as (even) Khovanov homology. Szabó introduced a spectral sequence with mod 2 coefficients from mod 2 Khovanov homology to another link homology. He got his spectral sequence from a chain complex with a filtration. We give an integral lift of Szabó's complex that provides a spectral sequence from odd Khovanov homology to a link homology, from which one can get Szabó's link homology with the Universal Coefficient Theorem. Szabó has constructed such a lift independently (un…