In 1999, Rozansky conjectured the existence of a rational presentation of the Kontsevich integral of a knot. Roughly speaking, this rational presentation of the Kontsevich integral would sum formal power series into rational functions with prescribed denominators. Rozansky's conjecture was soon proven by the second author. We begin our paper by reviewing Rozansky's conjecture and the main ideas that lead to its proof. The natural question of extending this conjecture to links leads to the class of boundary links, and a proof of Rozansky's conjecture in this case. A subtle issue is the fact that a `hair' map which replaces beads by the exponential of hair is not 1-1. This raises the question of whether a rational invariant of boundary links exists in an appropriate space of trivalent graphs whose edges are decorated by rational functions in noncommuting variables. A main result of the paper is to construct such an invariant, using the so-called surgery view of boundary links and after developing a formal diagrammatic Gaussian integration.
Since our invariant is one of many rational forms of the Kontsevich integral, one may ask if our invariant is in some sense canonical. We prove that this is indeed the case, by axiomatically characterizing our invariant as a universal finite type invariant of boundary links with respect to the null move. Finally, we discuss relations between our rational invariant and homology surgery, and give some applications to low dimensional topology.
In [2] M. Farber constructed invariants of m-component boundary links with values in algebra of noncommutative rational functions. In this paper we simplify his constructions and express them by using noncommutative generalizations of determinants introduced by Gelfand and Retakh. In particular, for every finite-dimensional module N over the algebra of noncommutative polynomials of m variables we construct a characteristic rational power series chi(N). If N is an algebraically closed field of arbitrary characteristic and N is semisimple, the series chi(N) determines N.
We give an explicit formula for the Jones polynomial of any rational link in terms of the denominators of the canonical continued fraction of the slope of the given rational link.
We introduce the notion of rational links in the solid torus. We show that rational links in the solid torus are fully characterized by rational tangles, and hence by the continued fraction of the rational tangle. Furthermore, we generalize this by giving an infinite family of ambient isotopy invariants of colored diagrams in the Kauffman bracket skein module of an oriented surface.
In this paper, we enumerate the number of oriented rational knots and the number of oriented rational links with any given crossing number and minimum genus. This allows us to obtain a precise formula for the average minimal genus of oriented rational knots and links with any given crossing number.
The present paper show that Conway-Coxeter friezes of zigzag type are characterized by (unoriented) rational links. As an application of this characterization Jones polynomial can be defined for Conway-Coxeter friezes of zigzag type. This gives a new method for computing the Jones polynomial for oriented rational links.
A theory of signatures for odd-dimensional links in rational homology spheres is studied via their generalized Seifert surfaces. The jump functions of signatures are shown invariant under appropriately generalized concordance and a special care is given to accommodate 1-dimensional links with mutual linking. Furthermore our concordance theory of links in rational homology spheres remains highly nontrivial after factoring out the contribution from links in integral homology spheres.
We define a graph algebra version of the stationary phase integration over the coadjoint orbits in the Reshetikhin formula for the colored Jones-HOMFLY polynomial. As a result, we obtain a `universal' U(1)-RCC invariant of links in rational homology spheres, which determines the U(1)-RCC invariants based on simple Lie algebras. We formulate a rationality conjecture about the structure of this invariant.
The 3-strand pretzel knots and links are a well-studied source of examples in knot theory. However, while there have been computations of the Khovanov homology of some sub-families of 3-strand pretzel knots, no general formula has been given for all of them. We give a general formula for the unreduced Khovanov homology of all 3-strand pretzel links, over the rational numbers.
We present complete classifications of links in the 3-sphere modulo framed and twisted Whitney towers in a rational homology 4-ball. This provides a geometric characterization of the vanishing of the Milnor invariants of links in terms of Whitney towers. Our result also says that the higher order Arf invariants, which are conjectured to be nontrivial, measure the potential difference between the Whitney tower theory in rational homology 4-balls and that in the 4-ball extensively developed by Conant, Schneiderman and Teichner.
We give an explicit formula for the HOMFLY polynomial of a rational link (in particular, a knot) in terms of a special continued fraction for the rational number that defines the given link.
A knot K is the resultant of a knot H if there exists a minimal crossing diagram D of K such that some crossings of D can be altered to produce H. K is fertile if every prime knot H with crossing number less than c(K) is a resultant of K. K is n-fertile if every prime knot H with crossing number less than n is a resultant of K. We classify the fertility and fertility number of all rational links. This requires the introduction of the analogous concept of link fertility.
The volume density of a hyperbolic link is defined as the ratio of hyperbolic volume to crossing number. We study its properties and a closely-related invariant called the determinant density. It is known that the sets of volume densities and determinant densities of links are dense in the interval [0,v_{oct}]. We construct sequences of alternating knots whose volume and determinant densities both converge to any x in [0,v_{oct}]. We also investigate the distributions of volume and determinant densities for hyperbolic rational links, and establish upper bounds and density results for these inv…
We prove that the link of a complex normal surface singularity is an L--space if and only if the singularity is rational. This via a recent result of Hanselman, J. Rasmussen, S. D. Rasmussen and Watson (proving the conjecture of Boyer, Gordon and Watson), shows that a singularity link is not rational if and only if its fundamental group is left-orderable if and only if it admits a coorientable taut foliation.
A rational link may be represented by any of the (infinitely) many link diagrams corresponding to various continued fraction expansions of the same rational number. The continued fraction expansion of the rational number in which all signs are the same is called a {\em nonalternating form} and the diagram corresponding to it is a reduced alternating link diagram, which is minimum in terms of the number of crossings in the diagram. Famous formulas exist in the literature for the braid index of a rational link by Murasugi and for its HOMFLY polynomial by Lickorish and Millet, but these rely on a…
We study lens space surgeries along two different families of 2-component links, denoted by $A_{m,n}$ and $B_{p,q}$, related with the rational homology 4-ball used in J.\ Park's (generalized) rational blow down. We determine which coefficient $r$ of the knotted component of the link yields a lens space by Dehn surgery. The link $A_{m,n}$ yields a lens space only by the known surgery with $r=mn$ and unexpectedly with $r=7$ for $(m,n)=(2,3)$. On the other hand, $B_{p,q}$ yields a lens space by infinitely many $r$. Our main tool for the proof is the Reidemeister-Turaev torsions, i.e.\ Reidemeiste…
We relate some terms on the boundary of the Newton polygon of the Alexander polynomial $Δ(x,y)$ of a rational link to the number and length of monochromatic twist sites in a particular diagram that we call the standard form. Normalize $Δ(x,y)$ so that no $x^{-1}$ or $y^{-1}$ terms appear, but $x^{-1}Δ(x,y)$ and $y^{-1}Δ(x,y)$ have negative exponents, and so that terms of even total degree are positive and terms with odd total degree are negative. If the rational link has a reduced alternating diagram with no self crossings, then $Δ(-1, 0) = 1$. If the standard form of the rational link has $m$…
A rational knot or link can be put into a standard alternating format which has horizontal and vertical twist sites (double helices). The number and type of these twist sites are determined by terms of next-to-highest $z$-degree in Kauffman's regular isotopy invariant $Λ(a,z)$. In particular, for a knot or link with $c$ crossings, the coefficient of the $z^{c-2}$ term is equal to the number of twist sites in its standard diagram. Furthermore, the coefficients of the $a^{-2}z^{c-2}$ and $a^2z^{c-2}$ terms count the number of left-turning and right-turning twist sites, respectively.
Let $U_n$ be the set of un-oriented and rational links with crossing number $n$, a precise formula for $|U_n|$ was obtained by Ernst and Sumners in 1987. In this paper, we study the enumeration problem of oriented rational links. Let $Λ_n$ be the set of oriented rational links with crossing number $n$ and let $Λ_n(d)$ be the set of oriented rational links with crossing number $n$ ($n\ge 2$) and deficiency $d$. In this paper, we derive precise formulas for $|Λ_n|$ and $|Λ_n(d)|$ for any given $n$ and $d$ and show that $$ Λ_n(d)=F_{n-d-1}^{(d)}+\frac{1+(-1)^{nd}}{2}F^{(\lfloor \frac{d}{2}\rfloor…
We describe Milnor open books and Legendrian surgery diagrams for canonical contact structures of links of some rational surface singularities. We also describe an infinite family of Milnor fillable contact 3-manifolds so that the Milnor genus (resp. Milnor norm) is strictly greater than the support genus (resp. support norm) of the canonical contact structure, for each member of this family.
This paper gives new and elementary combinatorial topological proofs of the classification of unoriented and oriented rational knots and links. These proofs are based on the known classification of alternating knots through flyping, and the calculus of continued fractions. We characterize the class of strongly invertible rational links. Rational links are of fundamental importance in the study of DNA recombination.
Let $F$ be an incompressible, meridionally incompressible and not boundary-parallel surface with boundary in the complement of an algebraic tangle $(B,T)$. Then $F$ separates the strings of $T$ in $B$ and the boundary slope of $F$ is uniquely determined by $(B,T)$ and hence we can define the slope of the algebraic tangle. In addition to the Conway's tangle sum, we define a natural product of two tangles. The slopes and binary operation on algebraic tangles lead an algebraic structure which is isomorphic to the rational numbers. We introduce a new knot and link class, algebraically alternating …
Boring is an operation which converts a knot or two-component link in a 3--manifold into another knot or two-component link. It generalizes rational tangle replacement and can be described as a type of 2--handle attachment. Sutured manifold theory is used to study the existence of essential spheres and planar surfaces in the exteriors of knots and links obtained by boring a split link. It is shown, for example, that if the boring operation is complicated enough, a split link or unknot cannot be obtained by boring a split link. Particular attention is paid to rational tangle replacement. If a k…
This paper gives two new combinatorial topological proofs of the classification of rational tangles. Each proof rests on an elegant lemma showing that rational tangles are isotopic to canonical alternating rational tangles. The first proof defines the tangle fraction from the canonical form and uses flyping to prove invariance. The second proof defines the fraction of a rational tangle via integral coloring of the tangle. The coloring method is then used to prove the Kauffman-Harary coloring conjecture for alternating knots and links in the case of rational knots and links (closures of rationa…
Rationally null-homologous links in Seifert fibered spaces may be represented combinatorially via labeled diagrams. We introduce an additional condition on a labeled link diagram and prove that it is equivalent to the existence of a rational Seifert surface for the link. In the case when this condition is satisfied, we generalize Seifert's algorithm to explicitly construct a rational Seifert surface for any rationally null-homologous knot. As an application of the techniques developed in the paper, we derive closed formulae for the rational Thurston-Bennequin and rotation numbers of a Legendri…
Given an $n$-component link $L$ in any 3-manifold $M$, the space $\mathcal{L} \subset (\mathbb{Q}\cup \mkern-1.5mu\{\infty\})^n$ of rational surgery slopes yielding L-spaces is already fully characterized (in joint work by the author) when $n\!=\!1$ and $\mathcal{L}$ is nontrivial. For $n\mkern-2mu>\mkern-3mu1$, however, there are no previous results for $\mathcal{L}$ as a rational subspace, and only limited results for integer surgeries $\mathcal{L}\cap\mathbb{Z}^n$ on $S^3\mkern-2mu$. Herein, we provide the first nontrivial explicit descriptions of $\mathcal{L}$ for rational surgeries on mul…
We identify 998 closed hyperbolic 3-manifolds whose volumes are rationally related to Dedekind zeta values, with coprime integers $a$ and $b$ giving $a/b vol(M)=(-D)^{3/2}/(2π)^{2n-4} (ζ_K(2))/(2ζ(2))$ for a manifold M whose invariant trace field $K$ has a single complex place, discriminant $D$, degree $n$, and Dedekind zeta value $ζ_K(2)$. The largest numerator of the 998 invariants of Hodgson-Weeks manifolds is, astoundingly, $a=2^4\times23\times37\times691 =9,408,656$; the largest denominator is merely b=9. We also study the rational invariant a/b for single-complex-place cusped manifolds, …
