A homology theory is developed for set-theoretic Yang-Baxter equations, and knot invariants are constructed by generalized colorings by biquandles and Yang-Baxter cocycles.
Quandle colorings and cocycle invariants are studied for composite knots, and applied to chirality and abelian extensions. The square and granny knots, for example, can be distinguished by quandle colorings, so that a trefoil and its mirror can be distinguished by quandle invariants of composite knots. We investigate this and related phenomena. Quandle cocycle invariants are studied in relation to the connected sum, and formulas are given for computing the cocycle invariant from the number of colorings of composite knots. Relations to corresponding abelian extensions of quandles are studied, a…
The state-sum invariants for knots and knotted surfaces defined from quandle cocycles are described using the Kronecker product between cycles represented by colored knot diagrams and a cocycle of a finite quandle used to color the diagram. Such an interpretation is applied to evaluating the invariants. Algebraic interpretations of quandle cocycles as deformations of extensions are also given. The proofs rely on colored knot diagrams.
Joyce has shown that the fundamental quandle of a classical knot can be derived from consideration of the fundamental group and the peripheral structure of the knot, and also that the group and much of the peripheral structure can be recovered from the quandle. We generalize these results to arbitrary dimensions, and also to virtual and welded knots and arcs.
Three new knot invariants are defined using cocycles of the generalized quandle homology theory that was proposed by Andruskiewitsch and Graña. We specialize that theory to the case when there is a group action on the coefficients. First, quandle modules are used to generalize Burau representations and Alexander modules for classical knots. Second, 2-cocycles valued in non-abelian groups are used in a way similar to Hopf algebra invariants of classical knots. These invariants are shown to be of quantum type. Third, cocycles with group actions on coefficient groups are used to define quandle co…
Defined by Joyce and Matveev, the fundamental quandle is a complete invariant of oriented classical knots. We consider invariants of knots defined from quotients of the fundamental quandle. In particular, we introduce the fundamental Latin Alexander quandle of a knot and consider its Gröbner basis-valued invariants, which generalize the Alexander polynomial. We show via example that the invariant is not determined by the generalized Alexander polynomial for virtual knots.
The 2-twist spun trefoil is an example of a sphere that is knotted in 4-dimensional space. Here this example is shown to be distinct from the same sphere with the reversed orientation. To demonstrate this fact a state-sum invariant for classical knots and knotted surfaces is developed via a cohomology theory of racks and quandles (also known as distributive groupoids). A quandle is a set with a binary operation --- the axioms of which model the Reidemeister moves in the classical theory of knotted and linked curves in 3-space. Colorings of diagrams of knotted curves and surfaces by quandle ele…
The theory of quandle (co)homology and cocycle knot invariants is rapidly being developed. We begin with a summary of these recent advances. One such advance is the notion of a dynamical cocycle. We show how dynamical cocycles can be used to color knotted surfaces that are obtained from classical knots by twist-spinning. We also demonstrate relations between cocycle invariants and Alexander matrices.
We show that the structure of a fibered knot, as a fiber bundle, is reflected in its knot quandle. As an application, we discuss finiteness and equivalence of knot quandles of concrete fibered 2-knots.
We give necessary conditions of a surface-knot to be ribbon concordant to another, by introducing a new variant of the cocycle invariant of surface-knots in addition to using the invariant already known. We demonstrate that twist-spins of some torus knots are not ribbon concordant to their orientation reversed images.
The quandle homology theory is generalized to the case when the coefficient groups admit the structure of Alexander quandles, by including an action of the infinite cyclic group in the boundary operator. Theories of Alexander extensions of quandles in relation to low dimensional cocycles are developed in parallel to group extension theories for group cocycles. Explicit formulas for cocycles corresponding to extensions are given, and used to prove non-triviality of cohomology groups for some quandles. The corresponding generalization of the quandle cocycle knot invariants is given, by using the…
The aim of this paper is to define certain algebraic structures coming from generalized Reidemeister moves of singular knot theory. We give examples, show that the set of colorings by these algebraic structures is an invariant of singular links. As an application we distinguish several singular knots and links.
A symmetric quandle is a quandle with a good involution. For a knot in \$R^3\$, a knotted surface in \$R^4\$ or an \$n\$-manifold knot in \$R^{n+2}\$, the knot symmetric quandle is defined. We introduce the notion of a symmetric quandle presentation, and show how to get a presentation of a knot symmetric quandle from a diagram.
This paper is a brief overview of some of our recent results in collaboration with other authors. The cocycle invariants of classical knots and knotted surfaces are summarized, and some applications are presented.
Given a rack Q and a ring A, one can construct a Yang-Baxter operator c_Q: V tensor V --> V tensor V on the free A-module V = AQ by setting c_Q(x tensor y) = y tensor x^y for all x,y in Q. In answer to a question initiated by D.N. Yetter and P.J. Freyd, this article classifies formal deformations of c_Q in the space of Yang-Baxter operators. For the trivial rack, where x^y = x for all x,y, one has, of course, the classical setting of r-matrices and quantum groups. In the general case we introduce and calculate the cohomology theory that classifies infinitesimal deformations of c_Q. In many cas…
In this note, residual finiteness of quandles is defined and investigated. It is proved that free quandles and knot quandles of tame knots are residually finite and Hopfian. Residual finiteness of quandles arising from residually finite groups (conjugation, core and Alexander quandles) is established. Further, residual finiteness of automorphism groups of some residually finite quandles is also discussed.
We enhance the quandle coloring quiver invariant of oriented knots and links with quandle modules. This results in a two-variable polynomial invariant with specializes to the previous quandle module polynomial invariant as well as to the quandle counting invariant. We provide example computations to show that the enhancement is proper in the sense that it distinguishes knots and links with the same quandle module polynomial.
A quandle is an algebraic system which excels at describing limited symmetries of a space. We introduce the concept of Schläfli quandles which are defined relating to chosen rotational symmetries of regular tessellations. On the other hand, quandles have a good chemistry with knot theory. Associated with a knot we have its knot quandle. We show that the knot quandle of the $m$-twist-spun trefoil is a central extension of the Schläfli quandle related to the regular tessellation $\{ 3, m \}$ in the sense of the Schläfli symbol if $m \geq 3$.
We construct elements of the third quandle homology groups of knot quandles, which are called the shadow fundamental classes. They play the same roles for the shadow quandle cocycle invariants of knots as the fundamental classes of knot quandles does for the quandle cocycle invariants. As an application of the shadow fundamental classes, we show the relation between the shadow quandle cocycle invariants and the based shadow quandle cocycle invariants. Moreover, we will show, for a prime knot, that any third quandle homology classes are considered as images of the shadow fundamental classes of …
For an oriented knot $K$, we construct a functor from the category of pointed quandles to the category of quandles in three different ways. We also extend the quandle cocycle invariants of knots by using these quandle-valued invariant of knots, and study their properties.
We prove that the fundamental quandle of the trefoil knot is isomorphic to the projective primitive subquandle of transvections of the symplectic space $\Z \oplus \Z$. The last quandle can be identified with the Dehn quandle of the torus and the cord quandle on a 2-sphere with four punctures. We also show that the fundamental quandle of the long trefoil knot is isomorphic to the cord quandle on a 2-sphere with a hole and three punctures.
We have a knot quandle and a fundamental class as invariants for a surface-knot. These invariants can be defined for a classical knot in a similar way, and it is known that the pair of them is a complete invariant for classical knots. In this paper, we compare a situation in surface-knot theory with that in classical knot theory, and prove the following: There exist arbitrarily many inequivalent surface-knots of genus $g$ with the same knot quandle, and there exist two inequivalent surface-knots of genus $g$ with the same knot quandle and with the same fundamental class.
We show that the fundamental quandle defines a functor from the oriented tangle category to a suitably defined quandle category. Given a tangle decomposition of a link $L$, the fundamental quandle of $L$ may be obtained from the fundamental quandles of tangles. We apply this result to derive a presentation of the fundamental quandle of periodic links, composite knots and satellite knots.
Algebraic homology and cohomology theories for quandles have been studied extensively in recent years. With a given quandle 2(3)-cocycle one can define a state-sum invariant for knotted curves(surfaces). In this paper we introduce another version of quandle (co)homology theory, say positive quandle (co)homology. Some properties of positive quandle (co)homology groups are given and some applications of positive quandle cohomology in knot theory are discussed.
The homology and cohomology of quandles and racks are used in knot theory: given a finite quandle and a cocycle, we can construct a knot invariant. This is a quick introductory survey to the invariants of knots derived from quandles and racks.
We establish a relationship between the knot symmetries and the automorphisms of the knot quandle. We identify the homeomorphisms of the pair $(S^{3},K)$ that induce the (anti)automorphisms of the fundamental quandle $Q(K)$. We show that every quandle (anti)automorphism of $Q(K)$ is induced by a homeomorphism of the pair $(S^{3},K)$. As an application of those results, we are able to explore some symmetry properties of a knot based on the presentation of its fundamental quandle, which is easily derived from a knot diagram.
Quandle 2-cocycles define invariants of classical and virtual knots, and extensions of quandles. We show that the quandle 2-cocycle invariant with respect to a non-trivial $2$-cocycle is constant, or takes some other restricted form, for classical knots when the corresponding extensions satisfy certain algebraic conditions. In particular, if an abelian extension is a conjugation quandle, then the corresponding cocycle invariant is constant. Specific examples are presented from the list of connected quandles of order less than 48. Relations among various quandle epimorphisms involved are also e…
Relations will be described between the quandle cocycle invariant and the minimal number of colors used for non-trivial Fox colorings of knots and links. In particular, a lower bound for the minimal number is given in terms of the quandle cocycle invariant.
We introduce the notion of a $G$-family of quandles which is an algebraic system whose axioms are motivated by handlebody-knot theory, and use it to construct invariants for handlebody-knots. Our invariant can detect the chiralities of some handlebody-knots including unknown ones.
Quandles with involutions that satisfy certain conditions, called good involutions, can be used to color non-orientable surface-knots. We use subgroups of signed permutation matrices to construct non-trivial good involutions on extensions of odd order dihedral quandles. For the smallest example of order 6 that is an extension of the three-element dihedral quandle, various symmetric quandle homology groups are computed, and applications to the minimal triple point number of surface-knots are given.
Quandle coloring quivers are directed graph-valued invariants of oriented knots and links, defined using a choice of finite quandle $X$ and set $S\subset\mathrm{Hom}(X,X)$ of endomorphisms. From a quandle coloring quiver, a polynomial knot invariant known as the \textit{in-degree quiver polynomial} is defined. We consider quandle coloring quiver invariants for oriented surface-links, represented by marked graph diagrams. We provide example computations for all oriented surface-links with ch-index up to 10 for choices of quandles and endomorphisms.
Let $K, K'$ be ribbon knottings of $n$-spheres with $1$-handles in $S^{n+2}$, $n\geq 2$. We show that if the knot quandles of these knots are isomorphic, then the ribbon knottings are stably equivalent, in the sense of Nakanishi and Nakagawa, after taking a finite number of connected sums with trivially embedded copies of $S^{n-1}\times S^{1}$.
We define new invariants of knots by means of quandle colorings and longitudinal information. These invariants can be applied to a tangle embedding problem and recognizing non-classical virtual knots.
We explore a knot invariant derived from colorings of corresponding $1$-tangles with arbitrary connected quandles. When the quandle is an abelian extension of a certain type the invariant is equivalent to the quandle $2$-cocycle invariant. We construct many such abelian extensions using generalized Alexander quandles without explicitly finding $2$-cocycles. This permits the construction of many $2$-cocycle invariants without exhibiting explicit $2$-cocycles. We show that for connected generalized Alexander quandles the invariant is equivalent to Eisermann's knot coloring polynomial. Computatio…
We consider a quiver structure on the set of quandle colorings of an oriented knot or link diagram. This structure contains a wealth of knot and link invariants and provides a categorification of the quandle counting invariant in the most literal sense, i.e., giving the set of quandle colorings the structure of a small category which is unchanged by Reidemeister moves. We derive some new enhancements of the counting invariant from this quiver structure and show that the enhancements are proper with explicit examples.
This paper studies the chirality of knotoids using shadow quandle colorings and the shadow quandle cocycle invariant. The shadow coloring number and the shadow quandle cocycle invariant is shown to distinguish infinitely many knotoids from their mirrors. Specifically, the knot-type knotoid $3_1$ is shown to be chiral. The weight of a quandle 3-cocycle is used to calculate the crossing numbers of infinitely many multi-linkoids.
State-sum invariants for knotted curves and surfaces using quandle cohomology were introduced by Laurel Langford and the authors in math.GT/9903135 In this paper we present methods to compute the invariants and sample computations. Computer calculations of cohomological dimensions for some quandles are presented. For classical knots, Burau representations together with Maple programs are used to evaluate the invariants for knot table. For knotted surfaces in 4-space, movie methods and surface braid theory are used. Relations between the invariants and symmetries of knots are discussed.
We present a set of 26 finite quandles that distinguish (up to reversal and mirror image) by number of colorings, all of the 2977 prime oriented knots with up to 12 crossings. We also show that 1058 of these knots can be distinguished from their mirror images by the number of colorings by quandles from a certain set of 23 finite quandles. We study the colorings of these 2977 knots by all of the 431 connected quandles of order at most 35 found by L. Vendramin. Among other things, we collect information about quandles that have the same number of colorings for all of the 2977 knots. For example,…
Homomorphisms on quandle cohomology groups that raise the dimensions by one are studied in relation to the cocycle state-sum invariants of knots and knotted surfaces. Skein relations are also studied.
In this note we prove that for any finite quandle $X$ and any 2-cocycle $ϕ\in Z^2_{Q\pm}(X; \mathds{Z})$, the cocycle invariant $Φ^{\pm}_ϕ(K)$ is trivial for all knots $K$.
Quandle cocycles are constructed from extensions of quandles. The theory is parallel to that of group cohomology and group extensions. An interpretation of quandle cocycle invariants as obstructions to extending knot colorings is given, and is extended to links component-wise.
We construct solutions to the set-theoretic Yang-Baxter equation using braid group representations in free group automorphisms and their Fox differentials. The method resembles the extensions of groups and quandles.
Quandle cocycle invariants form a powerful and well developed tool in knot theory. This paper treats their variations - namely, positive and twisted quandle cocycle invariants, and shadow invariants. We interpret the former as particular cases of the latter. As an application, several constructions from the shadow world are extended to the positive and twisted cases. Another application is a sharpening of twisted quandle cocycle invariants for multi-component links.
If a knot has the Alexander polynomial not equal to 1, then it is linear $n$-colorable. By means of such a coloring, such a knot is given an upper bound for the minimal quandle order, i.e., the minimal order of a quandle with which the knot is quandle colorable. For twist knots, we study the minimal quandle orders in detail.
To study embeddings of tangles in knots, we use quandle cocycle invariants. Computations are carried out for the tables of knots and tangles, to investigate which tangles may or may not embed in knots in the tables.
This paper is a survey of several papers in quandle homology theory and cocycle knot invariants that have been published recently. Here we describe cocycle knot invariants that are defined in a state-sum form, quandle homology, and methods of constructing non-trivial cohomology classes.
A quandle is an algebra with two binary operations satisfying three conditions which are related to Reidemeister moves in knot theory. In this paper we introduce the notion of the (canonical) tensor product of a quandle. The tensor product of the knot quandle or the knot symmetric quandle of a surface-link in $4$-space can be used to classify or construct invariants of $1$-handles attaching to the surface-link.
In CJKLS quandle cohomology is used to produce invariants for particular embeddings of codimension two; 2-cocycles give to invariants for (classical) knots and 3-cocycles give rise to invariants for knotted surfaces. This is done by way of a notion of coloring of a diagram. Also, these invariants have the form of state-sums (or partition functions) used in Statistical Mechanics. By a careful analysis of these colorings of diagrams we are able to come up with new invariants which correspond to calculation of the partition function at finite temperatures.
Lower bounds of betti numbers for homology groups of racks and quandles will be given using the quotient homomorphism to the orbit quandles. Exact sequences relating various types of homology groups are analyzed. Geometric methods of proving non-triviality of cohomology groups are also given, using virtual knots. The results can be applied to knot theory as the first step towards evaluationg the state-sum invariants defined from quandle cohomology.