Extended Alexander groups are used to define an invariant for open virtual strings. Examples of non-commuting open strings and a ribbon-concordance obstruction are given. An example is given of a slice virtual open string that is not ribbon. Definitions are extended to open n-strings.
A virtual string can be defined as an equivalence class of planar diagrams under certain kinds of diagrammatic moves. Virtual strings are related to virtual knots in that a simple operation on a virtual knot diagram produces a diagram for a virtual string. In this paper we consider three operations on a virtual string or virtual strings which produce another virtual string, namely covering, composition and cabling. In particular we study virtual strings unchanged by the covering operation. We also show how the based matrix of a composite virtual string is related to the based matrices of its c…
Cobordism of virtual string links on $n$ strands is a combinatorial generalization of link cobordism. There exists a bijection between virtual string links up to cobordisms and elements of the group $\mathbb{Z}^{n(n-1)}$. This paper also shows that virtual string links up to unwelded equivalence are classified by those groups. Finally, the related theory of welded string link cobordism is defined herein and shown to be trivial for string links with one component.
In this paper we investigate the virtual string links via a probabilistic interpretation. This representation can be used to distinguish some virtual string links from classical string links. In order to study the algebraic structure behind this probabilistic interpretation we introduce the notion of virtual flat biquandle. The cocycle invariants associated with virtual flat biquandle is discussed.
A virtual string can be defined as a closed curve on a surface modulo certain equivalence relations. Turaev defined several invariants of virtual strings which we use to produce a table of virtual strings up to 4 crossings. We discuss progress in extending the tabulation to 5 crossings. We also provide a counter-example to a statement of Kadokami.
A virtual $n$-string $α$ is a collection of $n$ oriented smooth generic loops on a surface $M$. A stabilization of $α$ is a surgery that results in attaching a handle to $M$ along disks avoiding $α$, and the inverse operation is a destabilization of $α$. We consider virtual $n$-strings up to virtual homotopy, i.e., sequences of stabilizations, destabilizations, and homotopies of $α$. Recently, Cahn proved that any virtual $1$-string can be virtually homotoped to a genus-minimal and crossing-minimal representative by monotonically decreasing both genus and the number of self-intersections. We g…
A virtual $n$-string is a chord diagram with $n$ core circles and a collection of arrows between core circles. We consider virtual $n$-strings up to virtual homotopy, compositions of flat virtual Reidemeister moves on chord diagrams. Given a virtual 1-string $α$, Turaev associated a based matrix that encodes invariants of the virtual homotopy class of $α$. We generalize Turaev's method to associate a multistring based matrix to virtual $n$-strings, addressing an open problem of Turaev and constructing similar invariants for virtual homotopy classes of virtual $n$-strings.
A Gauss paragraph is a combinatorial formulation of a generic closed curve with multiple components on some surface. A virtual string is a collection of circles with arrows that represent the crossings of such a curve. Every closed curve has an underlying virtual string and every virtual string has an underlying Gauss paragraph. A word-wise partition is a partition of the alphabet set of a Gauss paragraph that satisfies certain conditions with respect to the Gauss paragraph. In this paper we use the theory of virtual strings to obtain a combinatorial description of closed curves in the 2-spher…
In a previous paper, we defined an operation $μ$ that generalizes Turaev's cobracket for loops on a surface. We showed that, in contrast to the cobracket, this operation gives a formula for the minimum number of self-intersections of a loop in a given free homotopy class. In this paper we consider the corresponding question for virtual strings. We show that $μ$ gives a bound on the minimal self-intersection number of a virtual string which is stronger than a bound given by Turaev's virtual string cobracket. We use Turaev's based matrices to describe strings $α$ such that $μ$ gives a formula fo…
A virtual string is a scheme of self-intersections of a closed curve on a surface. We introduce virtual strings and study their geometric properties and homotopy invariants. We also discuss connections between virtual strings, Gauss words, and virtual knots.
Virtual index cocycle is the 1-cochain that counts virtual crossings in the arcs of a virtual link diagram. We show how this cocycle can be used to reformulate and unify some known invariants of virtual links.
We introduce two sequences of two-variable polynomials $\{ L^n_K (t, \ell)\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$ and $\{ F^n_K (t, \ell)\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$, expressed in terms of index value of a crossing and $n$-dwrithe value of a virtual knot $K$, where $t$ and $\ell$ are variables. Basing on the fact that $n$-dwrithe is a flat virtual knot invariant we prove that $L^n_K$ and $F^n_K$ are virtual knot invariants containing Kauffman affine index polynomial as a particular case. Using $L^n_K$ we give sufficient conditions when virtual knot does not admit cosmetic crossing change.
A virtual string is a scheme of self-intersections of a closed curve on a surface. We study algebraic invariants of strings as well as two equivalence relations on the set of strings: homotopy and cobordism. We show that the homotopy invariants of strings form an infinite dimensional Lie group. We also discuss connections between virtual strings and virtual knots.
Virtual knot theory is a generalization of knot theory which is based on Gauss chord diagrams and link diagrams on closed oriented surfaces. A twisted knot is a generalization of a virtual knot, which corresponds to a link diagram on a possibly non-orientable surface. In this paper, we discuss an invariant of twisted links which is obtained from the JKSS invariant of virtual links by use of double coverings. We also discuss some properties of double covering diagrams.
In this work we describe a new invariant of virtual knots. We show that this transcendental function invariant generalizes several polynomial invariants of virtual knots, such as the writhe polynomial, the affine index polynomial and the zero polynomial.
This paper introduces two virtual knot theory ``analogues'' of a well-known family of invariants for knots in thickened surfaces: the Grishanov-Vassiliev finite-type invariants of order two. The first, called the three loop isotopy invariant, is an invariant of virtual knots while the second, called the three loop framed isotopy invariant, is a regular isotopy invariant of framed virtual knots. The properties of these invariants are investigated at length. In addition, we make precise the informal notion of ``analogue''. Using this formal definition, it is proved that a generalized three loop …
Vassiliev introduced filtered invariants of knots using an unknotting operation, called crossing changes. Goussarov, Polyak, and Viro introduced other filtered invariants of virtual knots, which order is called GPV-order, using an unknotting operation, called virtualization. We defined other filtered invariants, which order is called $F$-order, of virtual knots using an unknotting operation, called forbidden moves. In this paper, we show that the set of virtual knot invariants of $F$-order $\le n+1$ is strictly stronger than that of $F$-order $\le n$ and that of GPV-order $\le 2n+1$. To obtain…
We introduce a theory of virtual Legendrian knots. A virtual Legendrian knot is a cooriented wavefront on an oriented surface up to Legendrian isotopy of its lift to the unit cotangent bundle and stabilization and destablization of the surface away from the wavefront. We show that the groups of Vassiliev invariants of virtual Legendrian knots and of virtual framed knots are isomorphic. In particular, Vassiliev invariants cannot be used to distinguish virtual Legendrian knots that are isotopic as virtual framed knots and have equal virtual Maslov numbers.
For ordinary knots in R3, there are no degree one Vassiliev invariants. For virtual knots, however, the space of degree one Vassiliev invariants is infinite dimensional. We introduce a sequence of three degree one Vassiliev invariants of virtual knots of increasing strength. We demonstrate that the strongest invariant is a universal Vassiliev invariant of degree one for virtual knots in the sense that any other degree one Vassiliev invariant can be recovered from it by a certain natural construction. To prove these results, we extend the based matrix invariant introduced by Turaev for virtual …
We construct graph-valued analogues of the Kuperberg sl(3) and G2 invariants for virtual knots. The restriction of the sl(3) or G2 invariants for classical knots coincides with the usual Homflypt sl(3) invariant and G2 invariants. For virtual knots and graphs these invariants provide new graphical information that allows one to prove minimality theorems and to construct new invariants for free knots (unoriented and unlabeled Gauss codes taken up to abstract Reidemeister moves). A novel feature of this approach is that some knots are of sufficient complexity that they evaluate themselves in the…
Dalian University of Technology(大连理工大学);Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications(北京国际数学研究中心);Sobolev Institute of Mathematics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences(俄罗斯科学院西伯利亚分院索博列夫数学研究所)
In this paper, we define some polynomial invariants for virtual knots and links. In the first part we use Manturov's parity axioms to obtain a new polynomial invariant of virtual knots. This invariant can be regarded as a generalization of the odd writhe polynomial defined by the first author. The relation between this new polynomial invariant and the affine index polynomial is discussed. In the second part we introduce a polynomial invariant for long flat virtual knots. In the third part we define a polynomial invariant for 2-component virtual links. This polynomial invariant can be regarded …
The Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant of classical link diagrams is generalized to virtual link diagrams. This invariant is unchanged by the framed Reidemeister moves and the Kirby calculus. As a result, it is also an invariant of the 3-manifolds represented by the classical link diagrams. This generalization is used to demonstrate that there are virtual knot diagrams with a non-trivial Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant and trivial 3-manifold fundamental group.
The virtual skein relation for the Jones polynomial of the virtual link diagram was introduced by N. Kamada, S. Nakabo, and S. Satoh. H. A. Dye, L. H. Kauffman, and Y. Miyazawa introduced multivariable polynomial, an invariant of virtual links, which is a refinement of Jones polynomial. In this paper, we give a skein relation for the multivariable polynomials among positive, negative, and virtual crossings with some restrictions. We apply this relation to study some properties of virtual links obtained by replacing a real crossing by a virtual crossing.
We produce chain-level generators of the virtual Lee complex $ Kh ' (V ) $ and use them to convert the computable bounds on the Rasmussen invariant of classical knots due to Kawamura and Lobb into bounds on the virtual Rasmussen invariant as defined by Dye, Kaestner, and Kauffman. We also exhibit a class of diagrams for which the bounds are tight. In addition, we use the chain-level generators to show that the virtual Rasmussen invariant is additive with respect to connect sum.
The aim of this paper is to introduce a polynomial invariant $f_K(t)$ for virtual knots. We show that $f_K(t)$ can be used to distinguish some virtual knot from its inverse and mirror image. The behavior of $f_K(t)$ under connected sum is also given. Finally we discuss which kind of polynomial can be realized as $f_K(t)$ for some virtual knot $K$.
By generalizing the Kuperberg sl(3) bracket, we construct a graph-valued analogue of the Homflypt sl(3) invariant for virtual knots. The restriction of this invariant for classical knots coincides with the usual Homflypt sl(3) invariant, and for virtual knots and graphs it provides new information that allows one to prove minimality theorems and to construct new invariants for free knots. We formulate this new invariant for virtual braids as well, and show that it leads to the construction of a trace function on the virtual Hecke algebra. Finally, we show that the Penrose coloring bracket is a…
A. Henrich proved the existence of the universal finite-type invariant of order one for virtual knots. We extend the construction and the methods of her paper to framed virtual knots. To do so, we introduce the notions of virtual strings and based matrices for framed flat virtual knots.
We generalize three invariants, first discovered by A. Henrich, to the long and/or framed virtual knot case. These invariants are all finite-type invariants of order one, and include a universal one. The generalization will require us to extend the notion of a based matrix of a virtual string, first introduced by V. Turaev and later generalized by Henrich, to the long and framed cases.
It is known that the number of biquandle colorings of a long virtual knot diagram, with a fixed color of the initial arc, is a knot invariant. In this paper we describe a more subtle invariant: a family of biquandle endomorphisms obtained from the set of colorings and longitudinal information.
Given a virtual knot $K$, we construct a group $VG_K$ called the virtual knot group, and we use the elementary ideals of $VG_K$ to define invariants of $K$ called the virtual Alexander invariants. For instance, associated to the $k=0$ ideal is a polynomial $H_K(s,t,q)$ in three variables which we call the virtual Alexander polynomial, and we show that it is closely related to the generalized Alexander polynomial $G_K(s,t)$ introduced by Sawollek, Kauffman-Radford, and Silver-Williams. We define a natural normalization of the virtual Alexander polynomial and show it satisfies a skein formula. W…
In the context of finite type invariants, Stanford introduced a family of equivalence relations on knots defined by the lower central series of the pure braid groups and characterized the finite type invariants in terms of the structure of the braid groups. It is known that this equivalence and Ohyama's equivalence defined by a local move are equivalent. On the other hand, in the virtual knot theory, the concept of Ohyama's equivalence was extended by Goussarov-Polyak-Viro, which called an $n$-equivalence. In this paper we extend Stanford's equivalence to virtual knots and virtual string links…
We construct an infinite commutative lattice of groups whose dual spaces give Kauffman finite-type invariants of long virtual knots. The lattice is based "horizontally" upon the Polyak algebra and extended "vertically" using Manturov's functorial map $f$. For each $n$, the $n$-th vertical line in the lattice contains an infinite dimensional subspace of Kauffman finite-type invariants of degree $n$. Moreover, the lattice contains infinitely many inequivalent extensions of the Conway polynomial to long virtual knots, all of which satisfy the same skein relation. Bounds for the rank of each group…
This paper studies rotational virtual knot theory and its relationship with quantum link invariants. Every quantum link invariant for classical knots and links extends to an invariant of rotational virtual knots and links. The paper sets up the background virtual knot theory, defines rotational virtual knot theory, studies an extension of the bracket polynomial and the Manturov parity bracket for rotationals. We give examples of links that are not detected by the bracket polynomial but are detected by the extended parity bracket. Then the general frameworks for oriented and unoriented quantum …
In the present paper, we construct the generalized Kuperberg bracket for two-component links with one component fibred. We consider a new geometrical complexity for such links and establish minimality of diagrams in a strong sense.
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.
We extend to the long virtual knot case the constructions first presented by A. Henrich and later generalized by the author to the framed virtual knot case. These consist of three Vassiliev invariants of order one, including a universal one, as well as the notions of a based matrix and a singular based matrix and their relation to long flat virtual knots.
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…
This paper gives a polynomial invariant for flat virtual links. In the case of one component, the polynomial specializes to Turaev's virtual string polynomial. We show that Turaev's polynomial has the property that it is non-zero precisely when there is no filamentation of the knot, as described by Hrencecin and Kauffman. Schellhorn has provided a version of filamentations for flat virtual links. Our polynomial has the property that if there is a filamentation, then the polynomial is 0. The converse fails, although if the polynomial is 0, then it turns out to be easy to determine if there is a…
Pseudodiagrams are knot or link diagrams where some of the crossing information is missing. Pseudoknots are equivalence classes of pseudodiagrams, where equivalence is generated by a natural set of Reidemeister moves. In this paper, we introduce a Gauss-diagrammatic theory for pseudoknots which gives rise to the notion of a virtual pseudoknot. We provide new, easily computable isotopy and homotopy invariants for classical and virtual pseudodiagrams. We also give tables of unknotting numbers for homotopically trivial pseudoknots and homotopy classes of homotopically nontrivial pseudoknots. Sinc…
In the prequel of this paper, Kauffman and Ogasa introduced new topological quantum invariants of compact oriented 3-manifolds with boundary where the boundary is a disjoint union of two identical surfaces. The invariants are constructed via surgery on manifolds of the form $F \times I$ where $I$ denotes the unit interval. Since virtual knots and links are represented as links in such thickened surfaces, we are able also to construct invariants in terms of virtual link diagrams (planar diagrams with virtual crossings). These invariants are new, nontrivial, and calculable examples of quantum in…
In this paper, we introduce a new nontrivial filtration, called F-order, for classical and virtual knot invariants; this filtration produces filtered knot invariants, which are called finite type invariants similar to Vassiliev knot invariants. Finite type invariants introduced by Goussarov, Polyak, and Viro are well-known, and we call them finite type invariants of GPV-order. We show that for any positive integer $n$ and for any classical knot $K$, there exist infinitely many of nontrivial classical knots, all of whose finite type invariants of GPV-order $< n$, coincide with those of $K$ (The…
In this paper we give the results of a computer search for biracks of small size and we give various interpretations of these findings. The list includes biquandles, racks and quandles together with new invariants of welded knots and examples of welded knots which are shown to be non-trivial by the new invariants. These can be used to answer various questions concerning virtual and welded knots. As an application we reprove the result that the Burau map from braids to matrices is non injective and give an example of a non-trivial virtual (welded) knot which cannot be distinguished from the unk…
Dye and Kauffman defined surface bracket polynomials for virtual links by use of surface states, and found a relationship between the surface states and the minimal genus of a surface in which a virtual link diagram is realized. They and Miyazawa independently defined a multivariable polynomial invariant of virtual links. This invariant is deeply related to the surface states. In this paper, we introduce the notion of surface pole bracket polynomials for link diagrams in closed surfaces, as a generalization of surface bracket polynomials by Dye and Kauffman. The polynomials induce the invarian…
The paper contains an essentially self-contained treatment of Khovanov homology, Khovanov-Lee homology as well as the Rasmussen invariant for virtual knots and virtual knot cobordisms which directly applies to classical knot and classical knot cobordisms. To do so, we give an alternate formulation for the Manturov definition of Khovanov homology for virtual knots and links with arbitrary coefficients. This approach uses cut loci on the knot diagram to induce a conjugation operator in the Frobenius algebra. We then discuss the implications of the maps induced in the aforementioned theory to the…
In this paper, we give a complete set of finite type string link invariants of degree <5. In addition to Milnor invariants, these include several string link invariants constructed by evaluating knot invariants on certain closure of (cabled) string links. We show that finite type invariants classify string links up to C_k-moves for k<6, which proves, at low degree, a conjecture due to Goussarov and Habiro. We also give a similar characterization of finite type concordance invariants of degree <6.
Geometric interpretations of some virtual knot invariants are given in terms of invariants of links in $\mathbb{S}^3$. Alexander polynomials of almost classical knots are shown to be specializations of the multi-variable Alexander polynomial of certain two-component boundary links of the form $J \sqcup K$ with $J$ a fibered knot. The index of a crossing, a common ingredient in the construction of virtual knot invariants, is related to the Milnor triple linking number of certain three-component links $J \sqcup K_1 \sqcup K_2$ with $J$ a connected sum of trefoils or figure-eights. Our main techn…
We show that every periodic virtual knot can be realized as the closure of a periodic virtual braid and use this to study the Alexander invariants of periodic virtual knots. If $K$ is a $q$-periodic and almost classical knot, we show that its quotient knot $K_*$ is also almost classical, and in the case $q=p^r$ is a prime power, we establish an analogue of Murasugi's congruence relating the Alexander polynomials of $K$ and $K_*$ over the integers modulo $p$. This result is applied to the problem of determining the possible periods of a virtual knot $K$. One consequence is that if $K$ is an alm…
Based on a recently introduced by the author notion of {\em parity}, in the present paper we construct a sequence of invariants (indexed by natural numbers $m$) of long virtual knots, valued in certain simply-defined group ${\tilde G}_{m}$ (the Cayley graphs of these groups are represented by grids in the $(m+1)$-space); the conjugacy classes of elements of $G_{m}$ play the role of invariants of {\em compact} virtual knots. By construction, all invariants do not change under {\em virtualization}. Factoring the group algebra of the corresponding group by certain polynomial relations leads to fi…
We define a generalization of virtual links to arbitrary dimensions by extending the geometric definition due to Carter et al. We show that many homotopy type invariants for classical links extend to invariants of virtual links. We also define generalizations of virtual link diagrams and Gauss codes to represent virtual links, and use such diagrams to construct a combinatorial biquandle invariant for virtual $2$-links. In the case of $2$-links, we also explore generalizations of Fox-Milnor movies to the virtual case. In addition, we discuss definitions extending the notion of welded links to h…