We develop a theory of stated SL(n)-skein modules, $S_n(M,N),$ of 3-manifolds $M$ marked with intervals $N$ in their boundaries. They consist of linear combinations of $n$-webs with ends in $N$, considered up to skein relations inspired by the relations of the Reshetikhin-Turaev theory.
We prove that cutting $M$ along a disk resulting in a $3$-manifold $M'$ yields a homomorphism $S_n(M)\to S_n(M')$. That result allows to analyze the skein modules of $3$-manifolds through the skein modules of their pieces.
The theory of stated skein modules is particularly rich for thickened surfaces $M=Σ\times (-1,1),$ in whose case, $S_n(M)$ is an algebra, denoted by $S_n(Σ).$ We prove that the skein algebra of the ideal bigon is $O_q(SL(n))$ and that it provides simple geometric interpretations of the product, coproduct, counit, the antipode, and the cobraided structure on $O_q(SL(n)).$
Additionally, we show that a splitting of a thickened bigon near a marking defines a $O_q(SL(n))$-comodule structure on $S_n(M),$ or dually, an $U_q(sl_n)$-module structure. Furthermore, we show that the skein algebra of surfaces $Σ_1, Σ_2$ glued along two sides of a triangle is isomorphic with the braided tensor product $S_n(Σ_1)\underline{\otimes} S_n(Σ_2)$ of Majid. These results allow for a geometric interpretation of further concepts in the theory of quantum groups, for example, of the braided products and of Majid's transmutation operation.
We prove that the factorization homology of surfaces with coefficients in $Rep\, U_q(sl_n)$ is equivalent to the category of left modules over $S_n(Σ)$. We also discuss the relation with the quantum moduli spaces of Alekseev-Schomerus.
Finally, we show that for surfaces $Σ$ with boundary, $S_n(Σ)$ is a free module with a basis induced from the Kashiwara-Lusztig canonical bases.
We study the stated skein modules of marked 3-manifolds. We generalize the splitting homomorphism for stated skein algebras of surfaces to a splitting homomorphism for stated skein modules of 3-manifolds. We show that there exists a Chebyshev-Frobenius homomorphism for the stated skein modules of 3-manifolds which extends the Chebyshev homomorphism of the skein algebras of unmarked surfaces originally constructed by Bonahon and Wong. Additionally, we show that the Chebyshev-Frobenius map commutes with the splitting homomorphism. This is then used to show that in the case of the stated skein al…
We give an $SL_3$ analogue of the triangular decomposition of the Kauffman bracket stated skein algebras described by Le. To any punctured bordered surface, we associate an $SL_3$ stated skein algebra which contains the $SL_3$ skein algebra of closed webs. These algebras admit natural algebra morphisms associated to the splitting of surfaces along ideal arcs. We give an explicit basis for the $SL_3$ stated skein algebra and show that the splitting morphisms are injective and describe their images. By splitting a surface along the edges of an ideal triangulation, we see that the $SL_3$ stated s…
We give an explicit correspondence between stated skein algebras, which are defined via explicit relations on stated tangles in [Costantino F., Lê T.T.Q., arXiv:1907.11400], and internal skein algebras, which are defined as internal endomorphism algebras in free cocompletions of skein categories in [Ben-Zvi D., Brochier A., Jordan D., J. Topol. 11 (2018), 874-917, arXiv:1501.04652] or in [Gunningham S., Jordan D., Safronov P., arXiv:1908.05233]. Stated skein algebras are defined on surfaces with multiple boundary edges and we generalise internal skein algebras in this context. Now, one needs t…
We construct finite-dimensional projective representations of the mapping class groups of compact connected oriented surfaces having one boundary component using stated skein algebras.
We relate the Kauffman bracket stated skein modules to two independent constructions of quantum representation spaces of Habiro and Van der Veen with the second author. We deduce from this relation a description of the classical limit of stated skein modules, a quantum Van Kampen theorem and a quantum HNN extension theorem for stated skein modules and obtain a new description of the skein modules of mapping tori and links exteriors.
We introduce higher skein modules of links generalizing the Conway skein module. We show that these modules are closely connected to the HOMFLY polynomial.
Skein modules are the main objects of an algebraic topology based on knots (or position). In the same spirit as Leibniz we would call our approach "algebra situs." When looking at the panorama of skein modules we see, past the rolling hills of homologies and homotopies, distant mountains - the Kauffman bracket skein module, and farther off in the distance skein modules based on other quantum invariants. We concentrate here on the basic properties of the Kauffman bracket skein module; properties fundamental in further development of the theory. In particular we consider the relative Kauffman br…
In this paper we introduce the notion of admissible skein modules associated to an ideal in a pivotal category. We explain how these modules are generalizations of the Kauffman skein algebra and how they relate to renormalized quantum invariants coming from non-semisimple categories.
Carrega has shown that the Kauffman bracket skein module of the 3-torus over the field of rational functions in the variable A can be generated by 9 skein elements. We show this set of generators is linearly independent.
We compute the Kauffman skein module of the complement of torus knots in S^3. Precisely, we show that these modules are isomorphic to the algebra of Sl(2,C)-characters tensored with the ring of Laurent polynomials.
We compute the action of the $\mathfrak{gl}_2$-skein algebra of the torus on the $\mathfrak{gl}_2$-skein module of the solid torus. As a result, we show that the $\mathfrak{gl}_2$-skein modules of lens spaces is spanned by $\left(\left\lfloor{\frac{p}{2}}\right \rfloor+1\right)\left(2\left\lfloor{\frac{p}{2}}\right \rfloor+1\right)$ elements.
We introduce a new skein module for three manifolds based on properly embedded surfaces and their relations introduced by D.Bar-Natan, and modified by M.Khovanov. We compute the structure of the modules for some manifolds, including Seifert fibred manifolds.
We use recoupling theory to study the Kauffman bracket skein module of the quaternionic manifold over Z[A,A^{-1}] localized by inverting all the cyclotomic polynomials. We prove that the skein module is spanned by five elements. Using the quantum invariants of these skein elements and the Z_2 homology of the manifold, we determine that they are linearly independent.
For each Frobenius algebra there is defined a skein module of surfaces embedded in a given 3-manifold and bounding a prescribed curve system in the boundary. The skein relations are local and generate the kernel of a certain natural extension of the corresponding topological quantum field theory. In particular the skein module of the 3-ball is isomorphic to the ground ring of the Frobenius algebra. We prove a presentation theorem for the skein module with generators incompressible surfaces colored by elements of a generating set of the Frobenius algebra, and with relations determined by tubing…
Relations between the string topology of Chas and Sullivan and the homotopy skein modules of Hoste and Przytycki are studied. This provides new insight into the structure of homotopy skein modules and their meaning in the framework of quantum topology. Our results can be considered as weak extensions to all orientable 3-manifolds of classical results by Turaev and Goldman concerning intersection and skein theory on oriented surfaces.
Let Sigma be a closed oriented surface of genus g. We show that the Kauffman bracket skein module of Sigma x S^1 over the field of rational functions in A has dimension at least 2^{2g+1}+2g-1.
Let k be an integral domain containing the invertible elements α, s and \frac{1}{s-s^{-1}}. If M is an oriented 3-manifold, let K(M) denote the Kauffman skein module of M over k. Based on the work on Birman-Murakami-Wenzl algebra by Beliakova and Blanchet, we give an ``idempotent-like'' basis for the Kauffman skein module of handlebodies. Gilmer and Zhong have studied the Homflypt skein modules of a connected sum of two 3-manifolds, here we study the case for the Kauffman skein module and show that K(M_1 # M_2) is isomorphic to K(M_1) tensor K(M_2) over a certain localized ring, where M_1 # M_…
Morrison, Walker, and Wedrich used the blob complex to construct a generalization of Khovanov-Rozansky homology to links in the boundary of a 4-manifold. The degree zero part of their theory, called the skein lasagna module, admits an elementary definition in terms of certain diagrams in the 4-manifold. We give a description of the skein lasagna module for 4-manifolds without 1- and 3-handles, and present some explicit calculations for disk bundles over $S^2$.
Let k be a subring of the field of rational functions in α, s which contains α^{1}, α^{-1}, s^{1}, s^{-1}, . Let M be a compact oriented 3-manifold, and let K(M) denote the Kauffman skein module of M over k. Then K(M) is the free k-module generated by isotopy classes of framed links in M modulo the Kauffman skein relations. In the case of k={Q}(α, s), the field of rational functions in α, s, we give a basis for the Kauffman skein module of the solid torus and a basis for the relative Kauffman skein module of the solid torus with two points on the boundary. We then show that K(S^{1} \times S^2)…
We show that we can release the rigidity of the skew Howe duality process for ${\mathfrak sl}_n$ knot invariants by rescaling the quantum Weyl group action, and recover skein modules for web-tangles. This skew Howe duality phenomenon can be extended to the affine ${\mathfrak sl}_m$ case, corresponding to looking at tangles embedded in a solid torus. We investigate the relations between the invariants constructed by evaluation representations (and affinization of them) and usual skein modules, and give tools for interpretations of annular skein modules as sub-algebras of intertwiners for partic…
The Kauffman bracket skein module $S(M)$ of a 3-manifold $M$ is a $\mathbb{Q}(A)$-vector space spanned by links in $M$ modulo the so-called Kauffman relations. In this article, for any closed oriented surface $Σ$ we provide an explicit spanning family for the skein modules $S(Σ\times S^1)$. Combined with earlier work of Gilmer and Masbaum, we answer their question about the dimension of $S(Σ\times S^1)$ being $2^{2g+1} + 2g -1$.
Algebra Situs is a branch of mathematics which has its roots in Jones' construction of his polynomial invariant of links and Drinfeld's work on quantum groups. It encompasses the theory of quantum invariants of knots and 3-manifolds, algebraic topology based on knots, operads, planar algebras, q-deformations, quantum groups, and overlaps with algebraic geometry, non-commutative geometry and statistical mechanics. Algebraic topology based on knots may be characterized as a study of properties of manifolds by considering links (submanifolds) in a manifold and their algebraic structure. The main …
For each closed, orientable surface F, we construct a local, diffeomorphism invariant trace on the Kauffman bracket skein module K_t(F x [0,1]). The trace is defined when |t| is neither 0 nor 1, and at certain roots of unity. At t = - 1, the trace is integration against the symplectic measure on the SU(2) character variety of the fundamental group of F.
If M is an oriented 3-manifold, let S(M) denote the Homflypt skein module of M. We show that S(M_1 connect sum M_2) is isomorphic to S(M_1) tensor S(M_2) modulo torsion. In fact, we show that S(M_1 connect sum M_2) is isomorphic to S(M_1) tensot S(M_2) if we are working over a certain localized ring. We show the similar result holds for relative skein modules. If M contains a separating 2-sphere, we give conditions under which certain relative skein modules of M vanish over specified localized rings.
In this paper we study the skein algebras of marked surfaces and the skein modules of marked 3-manifolds. Muller showed that skein algebras of totally marked surfaces may be embedded in easy to study algebras known as quantum tori. We first extend Muller's result to permit marked surfaces with unmarked boundary components. The addition of unmarked components allows us to develop a surgery theory which enables us to extend the Chebyshev homomorphism of Bonahon and Wong between skein algebras of unmarked surfaces to a "Chebyshev-Frobenius homomorphism" between skein modules of marked 3-manifolds…
We calculate the Kauffman bracket skein module (KBSM) of the complement of all two-bridge links. For a two-bridge link, we show that the KBSM of its complement is free over the ring $\BC[t^{\pm 1}]$ and when reducing $t=-1$, it is isomorphic to the ring of regular functions on the character variety of the link group.
We generalize our previous work on categorification of Kauffman bracket skein module of surfaces, by extending our homology to tangles in cylinders over surfaces, F x [0,1]. Our homology of 0-tangles and 1-tangles in D^3 coincides (up to normalization) with Khovanov link homology and the reduced Khovanov link homology. We prove the basic properties of our homology. In particular, the short exact sequence of homologies of skein related tangles and the Kunneth formula for the tensor product of tangles.
We describe in this chapter (Chapter IX) the idea of building an algebraic topology based on knots (or more generally on the position of embedded objects). That is, our basic building blocks are considered up to ambient isotopy (not homotopy or homology). For example, one should start from knots in 3-manifolds, surfaces in 4-manifolds, etc. However our theory is, until now, developed only in the case of links in 3-manifolds, with only a glance towards 4-manifolds. The main object of the theory is a skein module and we devote this chapter mostly to the description of skein modules in 3-dimensio…
The Kauffman bracket skein modules, S(M,A), have been calculated for A=+1,-1, for all 3-manifolds M by relating them to the SL(2,C)-character varieties. We extend this description to the case when A is a 4-th root of 1 and M is either a surface x [0,1] or a rational homology sphere (or its submanifold).
We show that the Kauffman bracket skein module of a cylinder over the torus embeds as a subalgebra of the noncommutative torus. Using this we derive nice formulas for the Jones-Wenzl idempotents and analyze the structure of the Kauffman bracket skein module of the unknot as a module over the Kauffman bracket skein module of a cylinder over the torus.
We show that relations in Homflypt type skein theory of an oriented $3$-manifold $M$ are induced from a $2$-groupoid defined from the fundamental $2$-groupoid of a space of singular links in $M$. The module relations are defined by homomorphisms related to string topology. They appear from a representation of the groupoid into free modules on a set of model objects. The construction on the fundamental $2$-groupoid is defined by the singularity stratification and relates Vassiliev and skein theory. Several explicit properties are discussed, and some implications for skein modules are derived.
We compute the Kauffman bracket skein module of the complement of a twist knot, finding that it is free and infinite dimensional. The basis consists of cables of a two-component link, one component of which is a meridian of the knot. The cabling of the meridian can be arbitrarily large while the cabling of the other component is limited to the number of twists.
We obtain a family of skein identities in the Kauffman bracket skein module which relate Frobenius elements to Jones-Wenzl projectors at roots of unity. We view these skein identities as certain incarnations of Steinberg tensor product formulae from the theory of tilting modules of the quantum group $U_q(sl_2)$. We show that the simplest skein identities yield a short new proof of the existence of the Chebyshev-Frobenius homomorphism of Bonahon-Wong.
We give a new, algebraically computable formula for skein modules of closed 3-manifolds via Heegaard splittings. As an application, we prove that skein modules of closed 3-manifolds are finite-dimensional, resolving in the affirmative a conjecture of Witten.
