We introduce skein theoretic techniques to compute the Yang-Baxter (YB) homology and cohomology groups of the R-matrix corresponding to the Jones polynomial. More specifically, we show that the YB operator $R$ for Jones, normalized for homology, admits a skein decomposition $R = I + βα$, where $α: V^{\otimes 2} \rightarrow k$ is a "cup" pairing map and $β: k \rightarrow V^{\otimes 2}$ is a "cap" copairing map, and differentials in the chain complex associated to $R$ can be decomposed into horizontal tensor concatenations of cups and caps. We apply our skein theoretic approach to determine the second and third YB homology groups, confirming a conjecture of Przytycki and Wang. Further, we compute the cohomology groups of $R$, and provide computations in higher dimensions that yield some annihilations of submodules.
We defined a grid homology theory for spatial graphs. We showed that the skein exact sequence of singular knots can be extended to our grid homology for spatial graphs.
The Jones polynomial is a famous link invariant that can be defined diagrammatically via a skein relation. Khovanov homology is a richer link invariant that categorifies the Jones polynomial. Using spectral sequences, we obtain a skein-type relation satisfied by the Khovanov homology. Thanks to this relation, we are able to generalize the Khovanov homology in order to obtain a categorification of the $θ$-invariant, which is itself a generalization of the Jones polynomial.
In a previous paper, Vértesi and the first author used grid-like Heegaard diagrams to define tangle Floer homology, which associates to a tangle $T$ a differential graded bimodule $\widetilde{\mathrm{CT}} (T)$. If $L$ is obtained by gluing together $T_1, \dotsc, T_m$, then the knot Floer homology $\hat{\mathrm{HFK}}(L)$ of $L$ can be recovered from $\widetilde{\mathrm{CT}} (T_1), \dotsc, \widetilde{\mathrm{CT}} (T_m)$. In the present paper, we prove combinatorially that tangle Floer homology satisfies unoriented and oriented skein relations, generalizing the skein exact triangles for knot Floe…
A homology cylinder of a surface induces an automorphism of the completed group ring of the fundamental group of the surface. We introduce a new method of computing the automorphism by using the Goldman Lie algebra of the surface or some skein algebra. In particular, we give a refinement of a formula by Kuno and Massuyeau.
Khovanov homology is a categorification of the Jones polynomial, so it may be seen as a kind of quantum invariant of knots and links. Although polynomial quantum invariants are deeply involved with Vassiliev (aka. finite type) invariants, the relation remains unclear in case of Khovanov homology. Aiming at it, in this paper, we discuss a categorified version of Vassiliev skein relation on Khovanov homology. More precisely, we will show that the "genus-one" operation gives rise to a crossing change on Khovanov complexes. Invariance under Reidemeister moves turns out, and it enables us to extend…
Asaeda, Przytycki and Sikora defined a generalization of Khovanov homology for links in $I$-bundles over compact surfaces. We prove that for a link $L\subset (-1,1)\times T^2$, the Asaeda-Przytycki-Sikora homology of $L$ has rank $2$ with $\mathbb{Z}/2$-coefficients if and only if $L$ is isotopic to an embedded knot in $\{0\}\times T^2$.
In this paper, we discuss degree 0 crossing change on Khovanov homology in terms of cobordisms. Namely, using Bar-Natan's formalism of Khovanov homology, we introduce a sum of cobordisms that yields a morphism on complexes of two diagrams of crossing change, which we call the "genus-one morphism." It is proved that the morphism is invariant under the moves of double points in tangle diagrams. As a consequence, in the spirit of Vassiliev theory, taking iterated mapping cones, we obtain an invariant for singular tangles that extending sl(2) tangle homology; examples include Lee homology, Bar-Nat…
We construct an invariant $z (M) =1+a_1(A^4-1)+ a_2(A^4-1)^2+a_3(A^4-1)^3 + \cdots \in \mathbb{Q} [[A^4-1]]= \mathbb{Q} [[A+1]]$ for an integral homology $3$-sphere $M$ using a completed skein algebra and a Heegaard splitting. The invariant $z(M)\mathrm{mod} ((A+1)^{n+1}) $ is a finite type invariant of order $n$. In particular, $-a_1/6$ equals the Casson invariant. If $M$ is the Poincaré homology 3-sphere, $(z(M))_{|A^4 =q} \mod (q+1)^{14} $ is the Ohtsuki series for $M$.
We re-derive Manolescu's unoriented skein exact triangle for knot Floer homology over F_2 combinatorially using grid diagrams, and extend it to the case with Z coefficients by sign refinements. Iteration of the triangle gives a cube of resolutions that converges to the knot Floer homology of an oriented link. Finally, we re-establish the homological sigma-thinness of quasi-alternating links.
We show that the bordered-sutured Floer invariant of the complement of a tangle in an arbitrary 3-manifold $Y$, with minimal conditions on the bordered-sutured structure, satisfies an unoriented skein exact triangle. This generalizes a theorem by Manolescu for links in $S^3$. We give a theoretical proof of this result by adapting holomorphic polygon counts to the bordered-sutured setting, and also give a combinatorial description of all maps involved and explicitly compute them. We then show that, for $Y = S^3$, our exact triangle coincides with Manolescu's. Finally, we provide a graded versio…
Khovanov homology, an invariant of links in $\mathbb{R}^3$, is a graded homology theory that categorifies the Jones polynomial in the sense that the graded Euler characteristic of the homology is the Jones polynomial. Asaeda, Przytycki and Sikora generalized this construction by defining a double graded homology theory that categorifies the Kauffman bracket skein module of links in $I$-bundles over surfaces, except for the surface $\mathbb{R}P^2$, where the construction fails due to strange behaviour of links when projected to the non-orientable surface $\mathbb{R}P^2$. This paper categorifies…
In 2004, Carter, Elhamdadi and Saito defined a homology theory for set-theoretic Yang-Baxter operators(we will call it the "algebraic" version in this article). In 2012, Przytycki defined another homology theory for pre-Yang-Baxter operators which has a nice graphic visualization(we will call it the "graphic" version in this article). We show that they are equivalent. The "graphic" homology is also defined for pre-Yang-Baxter operators, and we give some examples of it's one-term and two-term homologies. In the two-term case, we have found torsion in homology of Yang-Baxter operator that yields…
We introduce a formula for the action of Dehn twists on the HOMFLY-PT type skein module of a surface. As an application of the formula to mapping class group, we give an embedding from the Torelli group of a surface $Σ_{g,1}$ of genus $g$ with non-empty connected boundary into the completed HOMFLY-PT type skein algebra. As an application of the formula to integral homology $3$-spheres, we construct an invariant $z(M) \in \mathbb{Q} [ρ] [[h]]$ for an integral homology $3$-sphere $M$. The invariant $z(M) \mod (h^{n+1})$ is a finite type invariant of order $n$.
Biracks and biquandles, which are useful for studying the knot theory, are special families of solutions of the set-theoretic Yang-Baxter equation. A homology theory for the set-theoretic Yang-Baxter equation was developed by Carter, Elhamdadi, and Saito in order to construct knot invariants. In this paper, we construct a normalized (co)homology theory of a set-theoretic solution of the Yang-Baxter equation. We obtain some concrete examples of non-trivial $n$-cocycles for Alexander biquandles. For a biquandle $X,$ its geometric realization $BX$ is discussed, which has the potential to build in…
For every oriented surface of finite type, we construct a functorial Khovanov homology for links in a thickening of the surface, which takes values in a categorification of the corresponding gl(2) skein module. The latter is a mild refinement of the Kauffman bracket skein algebra, and its categorification is constructed using a category of gl(2) foams that admits an interesting non-negative grading. We expect that the natural algebra structure on the gl(2) skein module can be categorified by a tensor product that makes the surface link homology functor monoidal. We construct a candidate bifunc…
We generalize Kauffman's famous formula defining the Jones polynomial of an oriented link in 3-space from his bracket and the writhe of an oriented diagram. Our generalization is an epimorphism between skein modules of tangles in compact connected oriented 3-manifolds with markings in the boundary. Besides the usual Jones polynomial of oriented tangles we will consider graded quotients of the bracket skein module and Przytycki's q-analogue of the first homology group of a 3-manifold. In certain cases, for example for links in submanifolds of rational homology 3-spheres, we will be able to defi…
This paper is an extended account of my "Introductory Plenary talk at Knots in Hellas 2016" conference We start from the short introduction to Knot Theory from the historical perspective, starting from Heraclas text (the first century AD), mentioning R.Llull (1232-1315), A.Kircher (1602-1680), Leibniz idea of Geometria Situs (1679), and J.B.Listing (student of Gauss) work of 1847. We spend some space on Ralph H. Fox (1913-1973) elementary introduction to diagram colorings (1956). In the second section we describe how Fox work was generalized to distributive colorings (racks and quandles) and e…
In this article, we adjust the Yang-Baxter operators constructed by Jones for the HOMFLYPT polynomal. Then we compute the second homology for this family of Yang-Baxter operators. It has the potential to yield 2-cocycle invariant for links.
This paper is a sequel to my essay "Distributivity versus associativity in the homology theory of algebraic structures" Demonstratio Math., 44(4), 2011, 821-867 (arXiv:1109.4850 [math.GT]). We start from naive invariants of arc colorings and survey associative and distributive magmas and their homology with relation to knot theory. We outline potential relations to Khovanov homology and categorification, via Yang-Baxter operators. We use here the fact that Yang-Baxter equation can be thought of as a generalization of self-distributivity. We show how to define and visualize Yang-Baxter homology…
W. Rump showed that there exists a one-to-one correspondence between involutive right non-degenerate solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation and Rump right quasigroups. J. S. Carter, M. Elhamdadi, and M. Saito, meanwhile, introduced a homology theory of set-theoretic solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation in order to define cocycle invariants of classical knots. In this paper, we introduce the normalized homology theory of an involutive right non-degenerate solution of the Yang-Baxter equation and prove that the set-theoretic Yang-Baxter homology of certain solutions can be split into the normali…
We prove full functoriality of Khovanov homology for tangled framed gl2 webs. We use this functoriality result to prove a strong positivity result for (orientable) surface skein algebras. The argument goes categorical and consists in proving that so-called linear complexes are stable under superposition.
This paper continues the study of periodic links started in \cite{Politarczyk2}. It contains a study of the equivariant analogues of the Jones polynomial, which can be obtained from the equivariant Khovanov homology. In this paper we describe basic properties of such polynomials, show that they satisfy an analogue of the skein relation and develop a state-sum formula. The skein relation in the equivariant case is used to strengthen the periodicity criterion of Przytycki from \cite{Przytycki}. The state-sum formula is used to reproved the classical congruence of Murasugi from \cite{Murasugi1}.
