For each positive integer n the HOMFLY polynomial of links specializes to a one-variable polynomial that can be recovered from the representation theory of quantum sl(n). For each such n we build a doubly-graded homology theory of links with this polynomial as the Euler characteristic. The core of our construction utilizes the theory of matrix factorizations, which provide a linear algebra description of maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules on isolated hypersurface singularities.
In this paper, we study the higher Hochschild functor and its relationship with factorization algebras and topological chiral homology. To this end, we emphasize that the higher Hochschild complex is a $(\infty,1)$-functor from the category $\hsset \times \hcdga$ to the category $\hcdga$ (where $\hsset$ and $\hcdga$ are the $(\infty,1)$-categories of simplicial sets and commutative differential graded algebras) and give an axiomatic characterization of this functor. From the axioms we deduce several properties and computational tools for this functor. We study the relationship between the high…
We compute the factorization homology of a polynomial algebra over a compact and closed manifold with trivialized tangent bundle up to weak equivalence in a new way. This calculation is based on the model of a graph complex and an explicit morphism into the codomain, which makes it possible to twist the algebra with a Maurer-Cartan element and potentially apply other deformations.
We introduce equivariant factorization homology, extending the axiomatic framework of Ayala-Francis to encompass multiplicative invariants of manifolds equipped with finite group actions. Examples of such equivariant factorization homology theories include Bredon equivariant homology and (twisted versions of) Hochschild homology. Our main result is that equivariant factorization homology satisfies an equivariant version of tensor excision, and is uniquely characterised by this property. We also discuss applications to representation theory, such as constructions of categorical braid group acti…
These notes are an expanded version of two series of lectures given at the winter school in mathematical physics at les Houches and at the Vietnamese Institute for Mathematical Sciences. They are an introduction to factorization algebras, factorization homology and some of their applications, notably for studying $E_n$-algebras. We give an account of homology theory for manifolds (and spaces), which give invariant of manifolds but also invariant of $E_n$-algebras. We particularly emphasize the point of view of factorization algebras (a structure originating from quantum field theory) which pla…
Using factorization homology techniques, we give a simple proof of the action of Kontsevich and Soibelman operad on the pair consisting of Hochschild cohomology and Hochschild homology. The proof obviously extends to higher Hochschild cohomology and factorization (also called chiral) homology. Note that our result works in categories of chain complexes but also in categories of modules over a commutative ring spectrum.
The topological string interpretation of homological knot invariants has led to several insights into the structure of the theory in the case of sl(N). We study possible extensions of the matrix factorization approach to knot homology for other Lie groups and representations. In particular, we introduce a new triply graded theory categorifying the Kauffman polynomial, test it, and predict the Kauffman homology for several simple knots.
In this paper we define the 1,2-coloured HOMFLY-PT link homology and prove that it is a link invariant. We conjecture that this homology categorifies the coloured HOMFLY-PT polynomial for links whose components are labelled 1 or 2.
To a presentation of an oriented link as the closure of a braid we assign a complex of bigraded vector spaces. The Euler characteristic of this complex (and of its triply-graded cohomology groups) is the HOMFLYPT polynomial of the link. We show that the dimension of each cohomology group is a link invariant.
This is a short survey of algebro-combinatorial link homology theories which have the Jones polynomial and other link polynomials as their Euler characteristics.
The positive half of the Witt algebra is the Lie algebra spanned by vector fields x^{m+1} d/dx acting as differentiations on the polynomial algebra Q[x] upon which the Soergel bimodule construction of triply graded link homology is based. We show that this action of Witt algebra can be extended to the link homology.
These are notes from an informal mini-course on factorization homology, infinity-categories, and topological field theories. The target audience was imagined to be graduate students who are not homotopy theorists.
This article consists of six lectures on the categorification of the Burau representation and on link homology groups which categorify the Jones and the HOMFLY-PT polynomial. The notes are based on the lecture course at the PCMI 2006 summer school in Park City, Utah.
In the study of 2d (the space dimension) topological orders, it is well-known that bulk excitations are classified by unitary modular tensor categories. But these categories only describe the local observables on an open 2-disk in the long wave length limit. For example, the notion of braiding only makes sense locally. It is natural to ask how to obtain global observables on a closed surface. The answer is provided by the theory of factorization homology. We compute the factorization homology of a closed surface $Σ$ with the coefficient given by a unitary modular tensor category, and show that…
In this paper we show that there is a cut-off in the Khovanov homology of $(2k,2kn)$-torus links, namely that the maximal homological degree of non-zero homology group of $(2k,2kn)$-torus link is $2k^2n$. Furthermore, we calculate explicitely the homology groups in homological degree $2k^2n$ and prove that it coincides with the centre of the ring $H^k$ of crossingless matchings, introduced by M. Khovanov in \cite{tan}. Also we give an explicit formula for the ranks of the homology groups of $(3,n)$-torus knots for every $n\in\N$.
In [BK], it is shown that the Turaev-Viro invariants defined for a spherical fusion category $\mathcal{A}$ extends to invariants of 3-manifolds with corners. In [Kir], an equivalent formulation for the 2-1 part of the theory (2-manifolds with boundary) is described using the space of "stringnets with boundary conditions" as the vector spaces associated to 2-manifolds with boundary. Here we construct a similar theory for the 3-2 part of the 4-3-2 theory in [CY1993].
M. Khovanov and L. Rozansky gave a categorification of the HOMFLY-PT polynomial. This study is a generalization of the Khovanov-Rozansky homology. We define a homology associated to the quantum $(sl_n,\land V_n)$ link invariant, where $\land V_n$ is the set of the fundamental representations of the quantum group of $sl_n$. In the case of a [1,k]-colored link diagram, we prove that its homology is a link invariant. In the case of an [i,j]-colored link diagram, we define a normalized Poincare polynomial of its homology and prove the polynomial is a link invariant.
We construct a pairing, which we call factorization homology, between framed manifolds and higher categories. The essential geometric notion is that of a vari-framing of a stratified manifold, which is a framing on each stratum together with a coherent system of compatibilities of framings along links between strata. Our main result constructs labeling systems on disk-stratified vari-framed $n$-manifolds from $(\infty,n)$-categories. These $(\infty,n)$-categories, in contrast with the literature to date, are not required to have adjoints. This allows the following conceptual definition: the fa…
We develop a theory of equivariant factorization algebras on varieties with an action of a connected algebraic group $G$, extending the definitions of Francis-Gaitsgory [FG] and Beilinson-Drinfeld [BD1] to the equivariant setting. We define an equivariant analogue of factorization homology, valued in modules over $\text{H}^\bullet_G(\text{pt})$, and in the case $G=(\mathbb{C}^\times)^n$ we prove an equivariant localization theorem for factorization homology, analogous to the classical localization theorem [AtB]. We establish a relationship between $\mathbb{C}^\times$ equivariant factorization …
The contents of this 98-page paper have been subsumed into the 191-page paper "A colored sl(N)-homology for links in S^3" (arXiv:0907.0695v1 [math.GT]), in which we further develop the theory and use it to construct a colored link homology.
We trade matrix factorizations and Koszul complexes for Hochschild homology of Soergel bimodules to modify the construction of triply-graded link homology and relate it to Kazhdan-Lusztig theory.
We define a deformation of our earlier link homologies for fundamental representations of sl_m. The deformed homology of a link is isomorphic to the deformed homology of the disjoint union of its components. Moreover, there exists a spectral sequence starting with the old homology and converging to this deformed homology.
We construct an operator on sl(N) link homology with coefficients in a ring whose characteristic divides N. When P is prime, we use this operator to exhibit structural features of sl(P) link homology that are special to characteristic P that generalize well-known features of Khovanov homology that are special to characteristic 2.
We explain how rank two Frobenius extensions of commutative rings lead to link homology theories and discuss relations between these theories, Bar-Natan theories, equivariant cohomology and the Rasmussen invariant.
Using the diagrammatic calculus for Soergel bimodules, developed by B. Elias and M. Khovanov, as well as Rasmussen's spectral sequence, we construct an integral version of HOMFLY-PT and sl(n)-link homology.
In this article, we give an elementary construction of homological invariants of links presented by braid closures. The Euler characteristic of this complex is equal to quantum polynomial invariant of link.
For every positive integer $n$ we construct a bigraded homology theory for links, such that the corresponding invariant of the unknot is closely related to the U(n)-equivariant cohomology ring of $\mathbb{CP}^{n-1}$; our construction specializes to the Khovanov-Rozansky $sl_n$-homology. We are motivated by the "universal" rank two Frobenius extension studied by M. Khovanov in \cite{Kh3} for $sl_2$-homology.
We construct an equivariant colored sl(N)-homology for links, which generalizes both the colored sl(N)-homology defined by the author and the equivariant sl(N)-homology defined by Krasner. The construction is a straightforward generalization of that of the colored sl(N)-homology. The proof of invariance is based on a simple observation which allows us to translate the proof of the invariance of the colored sl(N)-homology into the new setting. As an application, we prove that deformations over C of the colored sl(N)-homology are link invariants. We also construct a spectral sequence connecting …
We explore the complex associated to a link in the geometric formalism of Khovanov's (n=2) link homology theory, determine its exact underlying algebraic structure and find its precise universality properties for link homology functors. We present new methods of extracting all known link homology theories directly from this universal complex, and determine its relative strength as a link invariant by specifying the amount of information held within the complex. We achieve these goals by finding a complex isomorphism which reduces the complex into one in a simpler category. We introduce few too…
We compute the reduced version of Khovanov and Rozansky's sl(N) homology for two-bridge knots and links. The answer is expressed in terms of the HOMFLY polynomial and signature.
In this thesis we work with Khovanov homology of links and its generalizations, as well as with the homology of graphs. Khovanov homology of links consists of graded chain complexes which are link invariants, up to chain homotopy, with graded Euler characteristic equal to the Jones polynomial of the link. Hence, it can be regarded as the "categorif\mbox{}ication" of the Jones polynomial. \indent We prove that the f\mbox{}irst homology group of positive braid knots is trivial. Futhermore, we prove that non-alternating torus knots are homologically thick. In addition, we show that we can decreas…
We investigate link homology theories for stable equivalence classes of link diagrams on orientable surfaces. We apply (1+1)-dimensional unoriented topological quantum field theories to Bar-Natan's geometric formalism to define new theories for stable equivalence classes.
We define a variant of Khovanov homology for links in thickened disks with multiple punctures. This theory is distinct from the one previously defined by Asaeda, Przytycki, and Sikora, but is related to it by a spectral sequence. Additionally, we show that there are spectral sequences induced by embeddings of thickened surfaces, which recover the spectral sequence from annular Khovanov homology to Khovanov homology as a special case.
We construct an action of a polynomial ring on the colored sl(2) link homology of Cooper-Krushkal, over which this homology is finitely generated. We define a new, related link homology which is finite dimensional, extends to tangles, and categorifies a scalar-multiple of the sl(2) Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant. We expect this homology to be functorial under 4-dimensional cobordisms. The polynomial action is related to a conjecture of Gorsky-Oblomkov-Rasmussen-Shende on the stable Khovanov homology of torus knots, and as an application we obtain a weak version of this conjecture. A key new ingr…
We use foams to give a topological construction of a rational link homology categorifying the slN link invariant, for N>3. To evaluate closed foams we use the Kapustin-Li formula adapted to foams by Khovanov and Rozansky. We show that for any link our homology is isomorphic to Khovanov and Rozansky's.
Khovanov and Rozansky's categorification of the HOMFLY-PT polynomial is invariant under braidlike isotopies for any link diagram and Markov moves for braid closures. To define HOMFLY-PT homology, they required a link to be presented as a braid closure, because they did not prove invariance under the other oriented Reidemeister moves. In this text we prove that the Reidemeister IIb move fails in HOMFLY-PT homology by using virtual crossing filtrations of the author and Rozansky. The decategorification of HOMFLY-PT homology for general link diagrams gives a deformed version of the HOMFLY-PT poly…
We construct a new spectral sequence beginning at the Khovanov homology of a link and converging to the Khovanov homology of the disjoint union of its components. The page at which the sequence collapses gives a lower bound on the splitting number of the link, the minimum number of times its components must be passed through one another in order to completely separate them. In addition, we build on work of Kronheimer-Mrowka and Hedden-Ni to show that Khovanov homology detects the unlink.
Generalizing Jacob Lurie's idea on the relation between the Verdier duality and the iterated loop space theory, we study the Koszul duality for locally constant factorization algebras. We formulate an analogue of Lurie's "nonabelian Poincare duality" theorem (which is closely related to earlier results of Graeme Segal, of Dusa McDuff, and of Paolo Salvatore) in a symmetric monoidal stable infinity category carefully, using John Francis' notion of excision. Its proof is done by first studying the Koszul duality for E_n-algebras in detail. As a consequence, we obtain a Verdier type equivalence f…
We show that the triply graded Khovanov-Rozansky homology of the torus link $T_{n,k}$ stablizes as $k\to \infty$. We explicitly compute the stable homology (as a ring), which proves a conjecture of Gorsky-Oblomkov-Rasmussen-Shende. To accomplish this, we construct complexes $P_n$ of Soergel bimodules which categorify the Young symmetrizers corresponding to one-row partitions and show that $P_n$ is a stable limit of Rouquier complexes. A certain derived endomorphism ring of $P_n$ computes the aforementioned stable homology of torus links.
This paper is devoted to the study of algebraic structures leading to link homology theories. The originally used structures of Frobenius algebra and/or TQFT are modified in two directions. First, we refine 2-dimensional cobordisms by taking into account their embedding into the three space. Secondly, we extend the underlying cobordism category to a 2-category, where the usual relations hold up to 2-isomorphisms. The corresponding abelian 2-functor is called an extended quantum field theory (EQFT). We show that the Khovanov homology, the nested Khovanov homology, extracted by Stroppel and Webs…
The first two sections of the paper provide a convenient scheme and additional diagrammatics for working with Frobenius extensions responsible for key flavors of equivariant SL(2) link homology theories. The goal is to clarify some basic structures in the theory and propose a setup to work over sufficiently non-degenerate base rings. The third section works out two related SL(2) evaluations for seamed surfaces.
We construct complexes $P_{1^n}$ of Soergel bimodules which categorify the Young idempotents corresponding to one-column partitions. A beautiful recent conjecture of Gorsky-Rasmussen relates the Hochschild homology of categorified Young idempotents with the flag Hilbert scheme. We prove this conjecture for $P_{1^n}$ and its twisted variants. We also show that this homology is also a certain limit of Khovanov-Rozansky homologies of torus links. Along the way we obtain several combinatorial results which could be of independent interest.
