We define $A_k$-moves for embeddings of a finite graph into the 3-sphere for each natural number $k$. Let $A_k$-equivalence denote an equivalence relation generated by $A_k$-moves and ambient isotopy. $A_k$-equivalence implies $A_{k-1}$-equivalence. Let ${\cal F}$ be an $A_{k-1}$-equivalence class of the embeddings of a finite graph into the 3-sphere. Let ${\cal G}$ be the quotient set of ${\cal F}$ under $A_k$-equivalence. We show that the set ${\cal G}$ forms an abelian group under a certain geometric operation. We define finite type invariants on ${\cal F}$ of order $(n;k)$. And we show that if any finite type invariant of order $(1;k)$ takes the same value on two elements of ${\cal F}$, then they are $A_k$-equivalent. $A_k$-move is a generalization of $C_k$-move defined by K. Habiro. Habiro showed that two oriented knots are the same up to $C_k$-move and ambient isotopy if and only if any Vassiliev invariant of order $\leq k-1$ takes the same value on them. The ` if' part does not hold for two-component links. Our result gives a sufficient condition for spatial graphs to be $C_k$-equivalent.
In a previous paper, the authors proved that Milnor link-homotopy invariants modulo $n$ classify classical string links up to $2n$-move and link-homotopy. As analogues to the welded case, in terms of Milnor invariants, we give here two classifications of welded string links up to $2n$-move and self-crossing virtualization, and up to $V^{n}$-move and self-crossing virtualization, respectively.
K. Habiro gave a neccesary and sufficient condition for knots to have the same Vassiliev invariants in terms of $C_k$-move. In this paper we give another geometric condition in terms of Brunnian local move. The proof is simple and self-contained.
In this paper, it is shown that there are no nonconstant Goussarov-Polyak-Viro finite-type invariants that are invariant under the virtualization move. As an immediate corollary, we obtain the theorem which states none of the Birman coefficients of the Jones-Kauffman polynomial are of GPV finite type.
In this paper a classification of Reidemeister moves, which is the most refined, is introduced. In particular, this classification distinguishes some $Ω_3$-moves that only differ in how the three strands that are involved in the move are ordered on the knot. To transform knot diagrams of isotopic knots into each other one must in general use $Ω_3$-moves of at least two different classes. To show this, knot diagram invariants that jump only under $Ω_3$-moves are introduced. Knot diagrams of isotopic knots can be connected by a sequence of Reidemeister moves of only six, out of the total of 24, …
Dabkowski and Sahi defined an invariant of a link in the $3$-sphere, which is preserved under $4$-moves. This invariant is a quotient of the fundamental group of the complement of the link. It is generally difficult to distinguish the Dabkowski-Sahi invariants of given links. In this paper, we give a necessary condition for the existence of an isomorphism between the Dabkowski-Sahi invariant of a link and that of the corresponding trivial link. Using this condition, we provide a practical obstruction to a link to be trivial up to $4$-moves.
We introduce a new knot diagram invariant called the Self-Crossing Index (SCI). Using SCI, we provide bounds for unknotting two families of framed unknots. For one of these families, unknotting using framed Reidemeister moves is significantly harder than unknotting using regular Reidemeister moves. We also investigate the relation between SCI and Arnold's curve invariant St, as well as the relation with Hass and Nowik's invariant, which generalizes cowrithe. In particular, the change of SCI under Ω3 moves depends only on the forward/backward character of the move, similar to how the change of …
Two simple homotopy equivalent 2-complexes K2 and L2 are related by an algebraic criterion of their corresponding presentations as stated in [HoMeSier]. Frank Quinn set it into a topological context (see [Qu1]) and call these 2-complexes related by an s-move. Using elementary 3-expansions, K2 extends to 3-cells in K3 respectively L2 to 3-cells in L3. By associating both explorations we obtain a decomposition of the s-move 3-cells into a sequence of 2-cells. We present ideas, sketch of proofs and problems to use it for constructing an Andrews-Curtis invariant on s-move 3-cells.
Oikawa defined an unknotting operation on virtual knots, called a CF-move, and gave a classification of 2-component virtual links up to CF-moves by the virtual linking number and his $n$-invariant. In particular, it was proved that a CF-move characterizes the information contained in the virtual linking number for 2-component odd virtual links. In this paper, we extend this result by classifying odd virtual links and almost odd virtual links with arbitrary number of components up to CF-moves, using the virtual linking number. Moreover, we extend Oikawa's $n$-invariant and introduce two invaria…
We study a local twist move on welded knots that is an analog of the virtualization move on virtual knots. Since this move is an unknotting operation we define an invariant, unknotting twist number, for welded knots. We relate the unknotting twist number with warping degree and welded unknotting number, and establish a lower bound on the twist number using Alexander quandle coloring. We also study the Gordian distance between welded knots by twist move and define the corresponding Gordian complex.
We start a systematic analysis of links up to 5-move equivalence. Our motivation is to develop tools which later can be used to study skein modules based on the skein relation being deformation of a 5-move (in an analogous way as the Kauffman skein module is a deformation of a 2-move, i.e. a crossing change). Our main tools are Jones and Kauffman polynomials and the fundamental group of the 2-fold branch cover of S^3 along a link. We use also the fact that a 5-move is a composition of two rational \pm (2,2)-moves (i.e. \pm 5/2-moves) and rational moves can be analyzed using the group of Fox co…
Ng constructed an invariant of knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, a combinatorial knot contact homology. Extending his study, we construct an invariant of surface-knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^4$ using marked graph diagrams.
In the previous paper, we considered a link diagram invariant of Hass and Nowik type using regular smoothing and unknotting number, to estimate the number of Reidemeister moves needed for unlinking. In this paper, we introduce a new link diagram invariant using irregular smoothing, and give an example of a knot diagram of the unknot for which the new invariant gives a better estimation than the old one.
Ng constructed an invariant of knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, a combinatorial knot contact homology. Extending his study, we construct an invariant of surface-knots in ${\mathbb{R}}^4$ using diagrams in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$.
Arnold introduced invariants $J^+$, $J^-$ and $St$ for generic planar curves. It is known that both $J^+ /2 + St$ and $J^- /2 + St$ are invariants for generic spherical curves. Applying these invariants to underlying curves of knot diagrams, we can obtain lower bounds for the number of Reidemeister moves for uknotting. $J^- /2 + St$ works well for unmatched RII moves. However, it works only by halves for RI moves. Let $w$ denote the writhe for a knot diagram. We show that $J^- /2 + St \pm w/2$ works well also for RI moves, and demonstrate that it gives a precise estimation for a certain knot d…
We study the 4-move invariant \crl\ for links in the 3-sphere developed by Dabkowski and Sahi, which is defined as a quotient of the fundamental group of the link complement. We develop techniques for computing this invariant and show that for several classes of knots it is equal to the invariant for the unknot; therefore, in these cases the invariant cannot detect a counterexample to the 4-move conjecture.
The $C_k$-equivalence is an equivalence relation generated by $C_k$-moves defined by Habiro. Habiro showed that the set of $C_k$-equivalence classes of the knots forms an abelian group under the connected sum and it can be classified by the additive Vassiliev invariant of order $\leq k-1$. We see that the set of $C_k$-equivalence classes of the spatial $θ$-curves forms a group under the vertex connected sum and that if the group is abelian, then it can be classified by the additive Vassiliev invariant of order $\leq k-1$. However the group is not necessarily abelian. In fact, we show that it i…
It is known that every surface-link can be presented by a marked graph diagram, and such a diagram presentation is unique up to moves called Yoshikawa moves. G. Kuperberg introduced a regular isotopy invariant, called the quantum A_2 invariant, for tangled trivalent graph diagrams. In this paper, a polynomial for a marked graph diagram is defined by use of the quantum A_2 invariant and it is studied how the polynomial changes under Yoshikawa moves. The notion of a ribbon marked graph is introduced to show that this polynomial is useful for an invariant of a ribbon 2-knot.
The writhe polynomial is a fundamental invariant of an oriented virtual knot. We introduce a kind of local moves for oriented virtual knots called shell moves. The first aim of this paper is to prove that two oriented virtual knots have the same writhe polynomial if and only if they are related by a finite sequence of shell moves. The second aim of this paper is to classify oriented $2$-component virtual links up to shell moves by using several invariants of virtual links.
Kricker defined an invariant of knots in homology 3-spheres which is a rational lift of the Kontsevich integral, and proved with Garoufalidis that this invariant satisfies splitting formulas with respect to a surgery move called null-move. We define a functorial extension of the Kricker invariant and prove splitting formulas for this functorial invariant with respect to null Lagrangian-preserving surgery, a generalization of the null-move. We apply these splitting formulas to the Kricker invariant.
A $4$-move is a local operation for links consisting in replacing two parallel arcs by four half twists. At the present time, it is not known if this induces an unkotting operation for knots. Studying the Dabkowski-Sahi invariant, we prove that any invariant of knots based on the fundamental group $π_1(S^3\setminus K)$ and preserved by $4$-moves is constant among the isotopy classes of knots.
It has long been known that a Milnor invariant with no repeated index is an invariant of link homotopy. We show that Milnor's invariants with repeated indices are invariants not only of isotopy, but also of self C_k-moves. A self C_k-move is a natural generalization of link homotopy based on certain degree k clasper surgeries, which provides a filtration of link homotopy classes.
In order to obtain a Markov theorem without stabilization, Birman and Menasco introduced the notion of exchange related braids. In this paper I study the way the Fiedler polynomial distinguishes conjugacy classes of some particular braided knots. I introduce the Kauffman bracket in the solid torus. Its Taylor expansion give finite type invariants similar to the Fiedler polynomial. I investigate how these invariants distinguish exchange related braids.
We provide a way to produce knots in $S^3$ from signed chord diagrams, and prove that every knot can be produced in this way. Using these diagrams, we generalize the fundamental theorem of finite type invariants. We also provide moves for the diagrams so that any two diagrams for the same knot are connected by a sequence of moves.
This paper demonstrates an approach for developing a framework to produce invariants of base-point-free generic spherical curves under some chosen local moves from Reidemeister moves using based chord diagrams. Our invariants not only contain Arnold's classical generic spherical curve invariant but also new invariants.
In 1993 K. Habiro defined $C_k$-move of oriented links and around 1994 he proved that two oriented knots are transformed into each other by $C_k$-moves if and only if they have the same Vassiliev invariants of order $\leq k-1$. In this paper we define Vassiliev invariant of type $(k_1,...,k_l)$, and show that, for $k=k_1+...+k_l$, two oriented knots are transformed into each other by $C_k$-moves if and only if they have the same Vassiliev invariants of type $(k_1,...,k_l)$. We introduce a concept ` band description of knots' and give a diagram-oriented proof of this theorem. When $k_1=...=k_l=…
We construct invariants of four-dimensional piecewise-linear manifolds, represented as simplicial complexes, with respect to rebuildings that transform a cluster of three 4-simplices having a common two-dimensional face in a different cluster of the same type and having the same boundary. Our construction is based on the usage of Euclidean geometric values.
We conclude the construction of the algebraic complex, consisting of spaces of differentials of Euclidean metric values, for four-dimensional piecewise-linear manifolds. Assuming that the complex is acyclic, we investigate how its torsion changes under rebuildings of the manifold triangulation. First, we write out formulas for moves 3 -> 3 and 2 <-> 4 based on the results of our two previous works, and then we study in detail moves 1 <-> 5. On this basis, we obtain the formula for a four-dimensional manifold invariant. As an example, we present a detailed calculation of our invariant for spher…
We write out some sequences of linear maps of vector spaces with fixed bases. Each term of a sequence is a linear space of differentials of metric values ascribed to the elements of a simplicial complex - a triangulation of a manifold. If the sequence turns out to be an acyclic complex then one can construct a manifold invariant out of its torsion. We demonstrate this first for three-dimensional manifolds, and then we conduct the part, related to moves 2 <-> 4, of the corresponding work for four-dimensional manifolds.
We study generalizations of finite-type knot invariants obtained by replacing the crossing change in the Vassiliev skein relation by some other local move, analyzing in detail the band-pass and doubled-delta moves. Using braid-theoretic techniques, we show that, for a large class of local moves, generalized Goussarov's n-equivalence classes of knots form groups under connected sum. (Similar results, but with a different approach, have been obtained before by Taniyama and Yasuhara.) It turns out that primitive band-pass finite-type invariants essentially coincide with standard primitive finite-…
We construct a new order 1 invariant for knot diagrams. We use it to determine the minimal number of Reidemeister moves needed to pass between certain pairs of knot diagrams.
Let K and K' be 2-knots. Suppose that K and K' are ribbon-move equivalent. Then the Farber-Levine pairing for K is equivalent to that for K' and the (Z-)torsion part of the first Alexander module of $K$ is isomorphic to that of K' as Z[Z] modules. Let K be a 2-knot which is ribbon-move equivalent to the trivial knot. Then the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer-Casson-Gordon-Ruberman Q/Z-valued \widetildeη-invariants of K for Z_d is zero. (d is a natural number. d>2.).
Let $n$ be an integer$\geqq0$. Let $S^{n+2}_1$ (respectively, $S^{n+2}_2$) be the $(n+2)$-sphere embedded in the $(n+4)$-sphere $S^{n+4}$. Let $S^{n+2}_1$ and $S^{n+2}_2$ intersect transversely. Suppose that the smooth submanifold, $S^{n+2}_1 \cap S^{n+2}_2$ in $S^{n+2}_i$ is PL homeomophic to the $n$-sphere. Then $S^{n+2}_1$ and $S^{n+2}_2$ in $S^{n+2}_i$ is an $n$-knot $K_i$. We say that the pair $(K_1,K_2)$ of n-knots is realizable. We consider the following problem in this paper. Let $A_1$ and $A_2$ be n-knots. Is the pair $(A_1,A_2)$ of $n$-knots realizable? We give a complete characteriz…
We introduce ribbon-moves of 2-knots, which are operations to make 2-knots into new 2-knots by local operations in B^4. (We do not assume the new knots is not equivalent to the old ones.) Let L_1 and L_2 be 2-links. Then the following hold. (1) If L_1 is ribbon-move equivalent to L_2, then we have μ(L_1)=μ(L_2). (2) Suppose that L_1 is ribbon-move equivalent to L_2. Let W_i be arbitrary Seifert hypersurfaces for L_i. Then the torsion part of H_1(W_1)+H_1(W_2) is congruent to G+G for a finite abelian group G. (3) Not all 2-knots are ribbon-move equivalent to the trivial 2-knot. (4) The inverse …
In this paper, we study Dehn colorings for spatial graphs, and give a family of spatial graph invariants that are called vertex-weight invariants. We give some examples of spatial graphs that can be distinguished by a vertex-weight invariant, whereas distinguished by neither their constituent links nor the number of Dehn colorings.
Two welded (respectively virtual) link diagrams are homotopic if one may be transformed into the other by a sequence of extended Reidemeister moves, classical Reidemeister moves, and self crossing changes. In this paper, we extend Milnor's mu and bar mu invariants to welded and virtual links. We conclude this paper with several examples, and compute the mu invariants using the Magnus expansion and Polyak's skein relation for the mu invariants.
We discuss the ribbon-move for 2-knots, which is a local move. Let $K$ and $K'$ be 2-knots. Then we have: Suppose that $K$ and $K'$ are ribbon-move equivalent. (1) Let ${\mathrm {Tor}} H_1(\widetilde X_K; {\Z})$ (resp. ${\mathrm {Tor}} H_1(\widetilde X_{K'}; {\Z})$) be the $\Z$-torsion submodule of the Alexander module $H_1(\widetilde X_K; {\Z})$ (resp. $H_1(\widetilde X_{K'}; {\Z})$). Then ${\mathrm {Tor}} H_1(\widetilde X_K; {\Z})$ is isomorphic to ${\mathrm {Tor}} H_1(\widetilde X_{K'}; {\Z})$ not only as $\Z$-modules but also as ${\Z}[t,t^{-1}]$-modules. (2) The Farber-Levine pairing for $…
This is a short review article on invariants of spatial graphs, written for "A Concise Encyclopedia of Knot Theory" (ed. Adams et. al.). The emphasis is on combinatorial and polynomial invariants of spatial graphs, including the Alexander polynomial, the fundamental quandle of a graph, and the Yamada polynomial.
Every classical or virtual knot is equivalent to the unknot via a sequence of extended Reidemeister moves and the so-called forbidden moves. The minimum number of forbidden moves necessary to unknot a given knot is an invariant we call the {\it forbidden number}. We relate the forbidden number to several known invariants, and calculate bounds for some classes of virtual knots.
A C_n-move is a local move on links defined by Habiro and Goussarov, which can be regarded as a `higher order crossing change'. We use Milnor invariants with repeating indices to provide several classification results for links up to C_n-moves, under certain restrictions. Namely, we give a classification up to C_4-moves of 2-component links, 3-component Brunnian links and n-component C_3-trivial links, and we classify n-component link-homotopically trivial Brunnian links up to C_{n+1}-moves.
We define homology of ternary algebras satisfying axioms derived from particle scattering or, equivalently, from the third Reidemeister move. We show that ternary quasigroups satisfying these axioms appear naturally in invariants of Reidemeister, Yoshikawa, and Roseman moves. Our homology has a degenerate subcomplex. The normalized homology yields invariants of knots and knotted surfaces.
Edge-homotopy and vertex-homotopy are equivalence relations on spatial graphs which are generalizations of Milnor's link-homotopy. Fleming and the author introduced some edge (resp. vertex)-homotopy invariants of spatial graphs by applying the Sato-Levine invariant for the constituent 2-component algebraically split links. In this paper, we construct some new edge (resp. vertex)-homotopy invariants of spatial graphs without any restriction of linking numbers of the constituent 2-component links by applying the generalized Sato-Levine invariant.
We introduce invariants of spatial graphs related to the Wu invariant and the Simon invariant, and apply them to prove that certain graphs are intrinsically chiral, and to obtain lower bounds for the minimal crossing number of embedded graphs.
We introduce new formulas that are Vassiliev invariants of flat vertex isotopy classes of spatial 2-bouquet graphs, which are equivalent to 2-string links. Although any Gauss diagram formula of Vassiliev invariants of spatial 2-bouquet graphs in a 3-space has been unknown, this paper gives the first and simple example.
We define the fundamental quandle of a spatial graph and several invariants derived from it. In the category of graph tangles, we define an invariant based on the walks in the graph and cocycles from nonabelian quandle cohomology.
Edge-homotopy and vertex-homotopy are equivalence relations on spatial graphs which are generalizations of Milnor's link-homotopy. We introduce some edge (resp. vertex)-homotopy invariants of spatial graphs by applying the Sato-Levine invariant for the 2-component constituent algebraically split links and show examples of non-splittable spatial graphs up to edge (resp. vertex)-homotopy, all of whose constituent links are link-homotopically trivial.
We consider surgery moves along (n+1)-component Brunnian links in compact connected oriented 3-manifolds, where the framing of the each component is 1/k for k in Z. We show that no finite type invariant of degree < 2n-2 can detect such a surgery move. The case of two link-homotopic Brunnian links is also considered. We relate finite type invariants of integral homology spheres obtained by such operations to Goussarov-Vassiliev invariants of Brunnian links.
In this paper we construct some invariants of spatial graphs by disk-summing the constituent knots and show the delta edge-homotopy invariance of them. As an application, we show that there exist infinitely many slice spatial embeddings of a planar graph up to delta edge-homotopy, and there exist infinitely many boundary spatial embeddings of a planar graph up to delta edge-homotopy.
In this paper, we formulate a new local move on virtual knot diagram, called arc shift move. Further, we extend it to another local move called region arc shift defined on a region of a virtual knot diagram. We establish that these arc shift and region arc shift moves are unknotting operations by showing that any virtual knot diagram can be turned into trivial knot using arc shift (region arc shift) moves. Based upon the arc shift move and region arc shift move, we define two virtual knot invariants, arc shift number and region arc shift number respectively.
The notion of a pseudoknot is defined as an equivalence class of knot diagrams that may be missing some crossing information. We provide here a topological invariant schema for pseudoknots and their relatives, 4-valent rigid vertex spatial graphs and singular knots, that is obtained by replacing unknown crossings or vertices by rational tangles.
The L-move for classical braids extends naturally to trivalent braids. We follow the L-move approach to the Markov Theorem, to prove a one-move Markov-type theorem for trivalent braids. We also reformulate this L-Move Markov theorem and prove a more algebraic Markov-type theorem for trivalent braids. Along the way, we provide a proof of the Alexander's theorem analogue for spatial trivalent graphs and trivalent braids.
We demonstrate the triangulability of compact 3-dimensional topological pseudomanifolds and study the properties of such triangulations, including the Hauptvermutung and relations by Alexander star moves and Pachner bistellar moves. We also provide an application to state-sum invariants of 3-dimensional topological pseudomanifolds
