We introduce a generalisation $LH_n$ of the ordinary Hecke algebras informed by the loop braid group $LB_n$ and the extension of the Burau representation thereto. The ordinary Hecke algebra has many remarkable arithmetic and representation theoretic properties, and many applications. We show that $LH_n$ has analogues of several of these properties. In particular we %introduce consider a class of local (tensor space/functor) representations of the braid group derived from a meld of the (non-functor) Burau representation and the (functor) Deguchi {\em et al}-Kauffman--Saleur-Rittenberg representations here called Burau-Rittenberg representations. In its most supersymmetric case somewhat mystical cancellations of anomalies occur so that the Burau-Rittenberg representation extends to a loop Burau-Rittenberg representation. And this factors through $LH_n$. Let $SP_n$ denote the corresponding quotient algebra, $k$ the ground ring, and $t \in k$ the loop-Hecke parameter. We prove the following:
1) $LH_n$ is finite dimensional over a field.
2) The natural inclusion $LB_n \rightarrow LB_{n+1}$ passes to an inclusion $SP_n \rightarrow SP_{n+1}$.
3) Over $k=\mathbb{C}$, $SP_n / rad $ is generically the sum of simple matrix algebras of dimension (and Bratteli diagram) given by Pascal's triangle.
4) We determine the other fundamental invariants of $SP_n$ representation theory: the Cartan decomposition matrix; and the quiver, which is of type-A.
5) The structure of $SP_n $ is independent of the parameter $t$, except for $t= 1$. \item For $t^2 \neq 1$ then $LH_n \cong SP_n$ at least up to rank$n=7$ (for $t=-1$ they are not isomorphic for $n>2$; for $t=1$ they are not isomorphic for $n>1$).
Finally we discuss a number of other intriguing points arising from this construction in topology, representation theory and combinatorics.
We point out that the Homfly polynomial (that is to say, Ocneanu's trace functional) contains two polynomial-valued inner products on the Hecke algebra representation of Artin's braid group. These bear a close connection to the Morton-Franks-Williams inequality. In these structures, the sets of positive, respectively negative permutation braids become orthonormal bases. In the second case, many inner products can be geometrically interpreted through Legendrian fronts and rulings.
We determine the image of the braid groups inside the Iwahori-Hecke algebras of type A, when defined over a finite field, in the semisimple case, and for suitably large (but controlable) order of the defining (quantum) parameter.
We study the rational permutation braids, that is the elements of an Artin-Tits group of spherical type which can be written $x^{-1} y$ where $x$ and $y$ are prefixes of the Garside element of the braid monoid. We give a geometric characterization of these braids in type $A_n$ and $B_n$ and then show that in spherical types different from $D_n$ the simple elements of the dual braid monoid (for arbitrary choice of Coxeter element) embedded in the braid group are rational permutation braids (we conjecture this to hold also in type $D_n$).This property implies positivity properties of the polynom…
In this paper we study the kernel of the homomorphism $B_{g,n} \to B_n$ of the braid group $B_{g,n}$ in the handlebody $\mathcal{H}_g$ to the braid group $B_n$. We prove that this kernel is a semi-direct product of free groups. Also, we introduce an algebra $H_{g,n}(q)$, which is some analog of the Hecke algebra $H_n(q)$, constructed by the braid group $B_n$.
A fast algorithm for the Hecke representation of the braid group, and applications to the computation of the HOMFLY-PT polynomial and the search for interesting braids
This article was submitted to a volume under preparation, with Benson Farb as the editor, on the topic of open problems in surface mapping class groups. The braid group B_n is the mapping class group of an n-times punctured disk. The Iwahori-Hecke algebra H_n is a quotient of the braid group algebra of B_n by a quadratic relation in the standard generators. We discuss how to use H_n to define the Jones polynomial of a knot or link. We also summarize the classification of the irreducible representations of H_n. We conclude with some directions for future research that would apply mapping class …
In this paper we represent the classical braids in the Yokonuma--Hecke and the adelic Yokonuma--Hecke algebras. More precisely, we define the completion of the framed braid group and we introduce the adelic Yokonuma--Hecke algebras, in analogy to the $p$--adic framed braids and the $p$--adic Yokonuma--Hecke algebras introduced in \cite{jula,jula2}. We further construct an adelic Markov trace, analogous to the $p$--adic Markov trace constructed in \cite{jula2}, and using the traces in \cite{ju} and the adelic Markov trace we define topological invariants of classical knots and links, upon impos…
Computing polynomial invariants for knots and links using braid representations relies heavily on finding the trace of Hecke algebra elements. There is no easy method known for computing the trace and hence it becomes difficult to compute the known polynomial invariants of knots using their braid representations. In this paper, we provide an algorithm to compute the trace of the Hecke algebra representation of any braid. We simplify this algorithm and write a Mathematica program to compute the invariants such as Alexander polynomial, Jones polynomial, HOMFLY-PT polynomial and Khovanov homology…
In this paper we introduce the framed pure braid group on $n$ strands of an oriented surface, a topological generalisation of the pure braid group $P_n$. We give different equivalents definitions for framed pure braid groups and we study exact sequences relating these groups with other generalisations of $P_n$, usually called surface pure braid groups. The notion of surface framed braid groups is also introduced.
The Yokonuma-Hecke algebras are quotients of the modular framed braid group and they support Markov traces. In this paper, which is sequel to Juyumaya and Lambropoulou (2007), we explore further the structures of the $p$-adic framed braids and the $p$-adic Yokonuma-Hecke algebras constructed in Juyumaya and Lambropoulou (2007), by means of dense sub-structures approximating $p$-adic elements. We also construct a $p$-adic Markov trace on the $p$-adic Yokonuma-Hecke algebras and we approximate the values of the $p$-adic trace on $p$-adic elements. Surprisingly, the Markov traces do not re-scale …
We prove that the quotient of the group algebra of the braid group on 5 strands by a generic cubic relation has finite rank. This was conjectured in 1998 by Broué, Malle and Rouquier and has for consequence that this algebra is a flat deformation of the group algebra of the complex reflection group $G_{32}$, of order 155,520.
In this paper we define the $p$-adic framed braid group ${\mathcal F}_{\infty,n}$, arising as the inverse limit of the modular framed braids and we give topological generators for ${\mathcal F}_{\infty, n}$. We also give geometric interpretations for the $p$-adic framed braids. We then construct a $p$-adic Yokonuma-Hecke algebra ${\rm Y}_{\infty,n}(u)$ 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. We also give topological generators for ${\rm Y}_{\infty,n}(u)$. Finally, we construct on th…
We study a quotient of the group algebra of the braid group in which the Artin generators satisfy a cubic relation. This quotient is maximal among the ones satisfying such a cubic relation. It is finite-dimensional for at least n at most 5 and we investigate its module structure in this range. We also investigate the proper quotients of it that appear in the realm of quantum groups, and describe another maximal quotient related to the usual Hecke algebras. Finally, we describe the connection between this algebra and a quotient of the algebra of horizontal chord diagrams introduced by Vogel. We…
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.
Introduction 1. The two-eigenvalue problem 2. Hecke algebra representations of braid groups 3. Duality of Jones-Wenzl representations 4. Closed images of Jones-Wenzl sectors 5. Distribution of evaluations of Jones polynomials 6. Fibonacci representations
Representations of the Iwahori-Hecke algebra of type A_{n-1} are equivalent to representations of the braid group B_n for which the generators satisfy a certain quadratic relation. We show how to construct such representations from the natural action of B_n on the homology of configuration spaces of the punctured disk. We conjecture that all irreducible representations of Hecke_n can be obtained in this way, even for non-generic values of q.
We prove that the quotients of the group algebra of the braid group on 3 strands by a generic quartic and quintic relation respectively, have finite rank. This is a special case of a conjecture by Broué, Malle and Rouquier for the generic Hecke algebra of an arbitrary complex reflection group. Exploring the consequences of this case, we will prove that we can determine completely the irreducible representations of this braid group for dimension at most 5, thus reproving a classification of Tuba and Wenzl in a more general framework.
Long and Moody gave a method of constructing representations of the braid group B_n. We discuss some ways to generalize their construction. One of these gives representations of subgroups of B_n, including the Gassner representation of the pure braid group as a special case. Another gives representations of the Hecke algebra.
The mixed braid groups $B_{2,n}, \ n \in \mathbb{N}$, with two fixed strands and $n$ moving ones, are known to be related to the knot theory of certain families of $3$-manifolds. In this paper we define the mixed Hecke algebra $\mathrm{H}_{2,n}(q)$ as the quotient of the group algebra ${\mathbb Z}\, [q^{\pm 1}] \, B_{2,n}$ over the quadratic relations of the classical Iwahori-Hecke algebra for the braiding generators. We furhter provide a potential basis $Λ_n$ for $\mathrm{H}_{2,n}(q)$, which we prove is a spanning set for the $\mathbb{Z}[q^{\pm 1}]$-additive structure of this algebra. The set…
In this paper we introduce distinct approaches to loop braid groups, a generalisation of braid groups, and unify all the definitions that have appeared so far in literature, with a complete proof of the equivalence of these definitions. These groups have in fact been an object of interest in different domains of mathematics and mathematical physics, and have been called, in addition to loop braid groups, with several names such as of motion groups, groups of permutation-conjugacy automorphisms, braid-permutation groups, welded braid groups and untwisted ring groups. In parallel to this, we int…
In a remark in his seminal 1987 paper, Jones describes a way to define the Burau matrix of a positive braid using a metaphor of bowling a ball down a bowling alley with braided lanes. We extend this definition to allow multiple bowling balls to be bowled simultaneously. We obtain the Iwahori-Hecke algebra and a cabled version of the Temperley-Lieb representation.
We provide an infinite family of left-ordered groups, all of which have a positive cone that is finitely generated as a semigroup. This family includes the Klein bottle group and the braid group B_3.
We prove that the quotients of the group algebra of the braid group introduced by L. Funar in Comm. Math. Phys., 1995, collapses in characteristic distinct from 2. In characteristic 2 we define several quotients of it, which are connected to the classical Hecke and Birman-Wenzl-Murakami quotients, but which admit in addition a symmetry of order 3. We also establish conditions on the possible Markov traces factorizing through it.
We define the singular Hecke algebra ${\mathcal H} (SB_n)$ as the quotient of the singular braid monoid algebra ${\mathbb C} (q) [SB_n]$ by the Hecke relations $σ_k^2 = (q-1) σ_k +q$, $1 \le k\le n-1$, and define the Markov traces on the sequence $\{{\mathcal H}(SB_n)\}_{n=1}^{+\infty}$ in the same way as for the Markov traces on the tower of (non-singular) Hecke algebras of the symmetric groups. We prove that the Markov traces are in one-to-one correspondance with the invariants that satisfies some skein relation, and compute an explicit classification of the Markov traces. Thanks to this cla…
In this work we introduce the concept of Modular Framization or simply Framization. We construct a framization $F_{d,n}$ of the Birman--Wenzl--Murakami algebra, also known as BMW algebra, and start a systematic study of this framization. We show that $F_{d,n}$ is finite dimensional and the \lq braid generators\rq\ of this algebra satisfy a quartic relation which is of minimal degree not containing the generators $t_i$. They also satisfy a quintic relation, as the smallest closed relation. We conjecture that the algebras $F_{d,n}$ support a Markov trace which allow to define polynomial invarian…
In this paper we first present the construction of the new 2-variable classical link invariants arising from the Yokonuma-Hecke algebras ${\rm Y}_{d,n}(q)$, which are not topologically equivalent to the Homflypt polynomial. We then present the algebra ${\rm FTL}_{d,n}(q)$ which is the appropriate Temperley-Lieb analogue of ${\rm Y}_{d,n}(q)$, as well as the related 1-variable classical link invariants, which in turn are not topologically equivalent to the Jones polynomial. Finally, we present the algebra of braids and ties which is related to the Yokonuma-Hecke algebra, and also its quotient, …
In this paper we introduce a Jones-type invariant for singular knots, using a Markov trace on the Yokonuma--Hecke algebras ${\rm Y}_{d,n}(u)$ and the theory of singular braids. The Yokonuma--Hecke algebras have a natural topological interpretation in the context of framed knots. Yet, we show that there is a homomorphism of the singular braid monoid $SB_n$ into the algebra ${\rm Y}_{d,n}(u)$. Surprisingly, the trace does not normalize directly to yield a singular link invariant, so a condition must be imposed on the trace variables. Assuming this condition, the invariant satisfies a skein relat…
We consider the linear representations of the mapping class group of an n-punctured 2-sphere constructed by V. F. R. Jones using Iwahori-Hecke algebras of type A. We show that their faithfulness is equivalent to that of certain related Iwahori-Hecke algebra representation of Artin's braid group of n-1 strands. In the case of n=6, we provide a further restriction for the kernel using our previous result, as well as a certain relation to the Burau representation of degree 4.
In this paper we survey some work on representations of $B_n$ given by the induced action on a homology module of some space. One of these, called the Lawrence-Krammer representation, recently came to prominence when it was shown to be faithful for all $n$. We will outline the methods used, applying them to a closely related representation for which the proof is slightly easier. The main tool is the Blanchfield pairing, a sesquilinear pairing between elements of relative homology. We discuss two other applications of the Blanchfield pairing, namely a proof that the Burau representation is not …
We describe a new geometric model for the Hochschild cohomology of Soergel bimodules based on the monodromic Hecke category studied earlier by the first author and Yun. Moreover, we identify the objects representing individual Hochschild cohomology groups (for the zero and the top degree cohomology this reduces to an earlier result of Gorsky, Hogancamp, Mellit and Nakagane). These objects turn out to be closely related to explicit character sheaves corresponding to exterior powers of the reflection representation of the Weyl group. Applying the described functors to the images of braids in the…
