We present two different representations of (1,1)-knots and study some connections between them. The first representation is algebraic: every (1,1)-knot is represented by an element of the pure mapping class group of the twice punctured torus. The second representation is parametric: every (1,1)-knot can be represented by a 4-tuple of integer parameters. The strict connection of this representation with the class of Dunwoody manifolds is illustrated. The above representations are explicitly obtained in some interesting cases, including two-bridge knots and torus knots.
There is an infinitely generated free subgroup of the smooth knot concordance group with the property that no nontrivial element in this subgroup can be represented by an alternating knot. This subgroup has the further property that every element is represented by a topologically slice knot.
Knot mosaics are used to model physical quantum states. The mosaic number of a knot is the smallest integer $m$ such that the knot can be represented as a knot $m$-mosaic. In this paper we establish an upper bound for the crossing number of a knot in terms of the mosaic number. Given an $m$-mosaic and any knot $K$ that is represented on the mosaic, its crossing number $c$ is bounded above by $(m - 2)^{2} - 2$ if $m$ is odd, and $(m - 2)^{2} - (m - 3)$ if $m$ is even.
For n >1, if the Seifert form of a knotted 2n-1 sphere K in S^{2n+1} has a metabolizer, then the knot is slice. Casson and Gordon proved that this is false in dimension three (n = 1). However, in the three dimensional case it is true that if the metabolizer has a basis represented by a strongly slice link then K is slice. The question has been asked as to whether it is sufficient that each basis element is represented by a slice knot to assure that K is slice. For genus one knots this is of course true; here we present a genus two counterexample.
The classical knot recognition problem is the problem of determining whether the virtual knot represented by a given diagram is classical. We prove that this problem is in NP, and we give an exponential time algorithm for the problem.
We introduce and study knotoids. Knotoids are represented by diagrams in a surface which differ from the usual knot diagrams in that the underlying curve is a segment rather than a circle. Knotoid diagrams are considered up to Reidemeister moves applied away from the endpoints of the underlying segment. We show that knotoids in $S^2$ generalize knots in $S^3$ and study the semigroup of knotoids. We also discuss applications to knots and invariants of knotoids.
Techniques are introduced which determine the geometric structure of non-simple two-generator $3$-manifolds from purely algebraic data. As an application, the satellite knots in the $3$-sphere with a two-generator presentation in which at least one generator is represented by a meridian for the knot are classified.
Every torus knot can be represented as a Fourier-(1,1,2) knot which is the simplest possible Fourier representation for such a knot. This answers a question of Kauffman and confirms the conjecture made by Boocher, Daigle, Hoste and Zheng. In particular, the torus knot T(p,q) can be parameterized as x(t)=cos(pt), y(t)=cos(qt+pi/(2p)), and z(t)=cos(pt+pi/2)\cos((q-p)t+pi/(2p)-pi/(4q)).
We show that if each of $K_1$ and $K_2$ is a trefoil knot or figure eight knot, the homology 3-sphere defined by the Kirby diagram which is a simple link of $K_1$ and $K_2$ with framing (0, n) is represented by an n-twisted Whitehead double of $K_2$ .
A conjecture of Riley about the relationship between real parabolic representations and signatures of two-bridge knots is verified for double twist knots.
We discuss the polynomial representation for long knots and elaborate on how to obtain them with a bound on degrees of the defining polynomials, for any knot-type.
We study certain linear representations of the knot group that induce augmentations of knot contact homology. This perspective on augmentations enhances our understanding of the relationship between the augmentation polynomial and the A-polynomial of the knot. For example, we show that for 2-bridge knots the polynomials agree and that this is never the case for (non-2-bridge) torus knots, nor for a family of 3-bridge pretzel knots. In addition, we obtain a lower bound on the meridional rank of the knot. As a consequence, our results give another proof that torus knots and a family of pretzel k…
The existence of topologically slice knots that are of infinite order in the knot concordance group followed from Freedman's work on topological surgery and Donaldson's gauge theoretic approach to 4-manifolds. Here, as an application of Ozsvath and Szabo's Heegaard-Floer theory, we show the existence of an infinite subgroup of the smooth concordance group generated by topologically slice knots of concordance order two. In addition, no nontrivial element in this subgroup can be represented by a knot with Alexander polynomial one.
We show that a non-trivial, non-central normal subgroup of the braid groups contains a braid whose closure is a hyperbolic knot with arbitrary large genus. This shows that non-faithfulness of a quantum representation implies that the corresponding quantum invariant fails to detect the unknot. The proof utilizes the Dehornoy ordering of the braid groups.
We give a classification of irreducible metabelian representations from a knot group into SL(n,C) and GL(n,C). If the homology of the n-fold branched cover of the knot is finite, we show that every irreducible metabelian SL(n,C) representation is conjugate to a unitary representation and that the set of conjugacy classes of such representations is finite. In that case, we give a formula for this number in terms of the Alexander polynomial of the knot. These results are the higher rank generalizations of a result of Nagasato, who recently studied irreducible, metabelian SL(2,C) representations …
The aim of this article is to study the existence of certain reducible, metabelian representations of knot groups into $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbf{C})$ which generalise the representations studied previously by G.~Burde and G.~de Rham. Under specific hypotheses we prove the existence of irreducible deformations of such representations of knot groups into $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbf{C})$.
We construct a 1-parameter family of $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbf{R})$ representations of the pretzel knot $P(-2,3,7)$. As a consequence, we conclude that Dehn surgeries on this knot are left-orderable for all rational surgery slopes less than 6. Furthermore, we discuss a family of knots and exhibit similar orderability results for a few other examples.
An $(m,n)$-branched twist spin is a fibered $2$-knot in $S^4$ which is determined by a $1$-knot $K$ and coprime integers $m$ and $n$. For a $1$-knot, Lin proved that the number of irreducible $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$-metabelian representations of the knot group of a $1$-knot up to conjugation is determined by the knot determinant of the $1$-knot. In this paper, we prove that the number of irreducible $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$-metabelian representations of the knot group of an $(m,n)$-branched twist spin up to conjugation is determined by the determinant of a $1$-knot in the orbit space by comparing a prese…
We develop an algebraic representation for (1,1)-knots using the mapping class group of the twice punctured torus MCG(T,2). We prove that every (1,1)-knot in a lens space L(p,q) can be represented by the composition of an element of a certain rank two free subgroup of MCG(T,2) with a standard element only depending on the ambient space. As a notable examples, we obtain a representation of this type for all torus knots and for all two-bridge knots. Moreover, we give explicit cyclic presentations for the fundamental groups of the cyclic branched coverings of torus knots of type (k,ck+2).
We describe which knots can be obtained as cycles in the canonical book representation of K_n, the complete graph on n vertices. We show that the canonical book representation of K_n contains a Hamiltonian cycle that is a composite knot if and only if n>11 and we show that when p and q are relatively prime, the (p,q) torus knot is a Hamiltonian cycle in the canonical book representation of K_{2p+q}. Finally, we list the number and type of all non-trivial knots that occur as cycles in the canonical book representation of K_n for n<12. We conjecture that the canonical book representation of K_n …
Let K be a knot in $S^3$ and $X$ its complement. We study deformations of reducible metabelian representations of the knot group $π_1(X)$ into $SL(3,\mathbb{C})$ which are associated to a double root of the Alexander polynomial. We prove that these reducible metabelian representations are smooth points of the representation variety and that they have irreducible non metabelian deformations.
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.
We study the representation spaces $R(K;\bf{i})$ as appearing in Kronheimer and Mrowka's framed instanton knot Floer homology, for a class of pretzel knots. In particular, for pretzel knots $P(p,q,r)$ with $p, q, r$ pairwise coprime, these appear to be non-degenerate and comprise representations in SU(2) that are not binary dihedral.
Let $K$ be a knot in $S^3$ and $X$ its complement. We study deformations of non-abelian, metabelian, reducible representations of the knot group $π\_1(X)$ into $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbf{C})$ which are associated to a simple root of the Alexander polynomial. We prove that certain of these metabelian reducible representations are smooth points of the $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbf{C})$-representation variety and that they have irreducible deformations.
In this paper we show that the twisted Alexander polynomial associated to a parabolic representation determines fiberedness and genus of a wide class of 2-bridge knots. As a corollary we give an affirmative answer to a conjecture of Dunfield, Friedl and Jackson for infinitely many hyperbolic knots.
We introduce the adjoint homological Selmer module for an SL$_2$-representation of a knot group, which may be seen as a knot theoretic analogue of the dual adjoint Selmer module for a Galois representation. We then show finitely generated torsion-ness of our adjoint Selmer module, which are widely known as conjectures in number theory, and give some concrete examples.
Suppose the knot group G(K) of a knot K has a non-abelian representation ρon A_4 \subset GL(4,Z). We conjecture that the twisted Alexander polynomial of K associated to ρis of the form: Δ_K(t)/(1-t) ϕ(t^3), where Δ_K (t) is the Alexander polynomial of K and ϕ(t^3) is an integer polynomial in t^3. We prove the conjecture for 2-bridge knots K whose group G(K) can be mapped onto a free product Z/2*Z/3. Later, we discuss more general metabelian representations of the knot groups and propose a similar conjecture on the form of the twisted Alexander polynomials.
In this paper we will study properties of twisted Alexander polynomials of knots corresponding to metabelian representations. In particular we answer a question of Wada about the twisted Alexander polynomial associated to the tensor product of two representations, and we settle several conjectures of Hirasawa and Murasugi.
For a knot K in S^3 we construct according to Casson--or more precisely taking into account Lin and Heusener's further works--a volume form on the SU(2)-representation space of the group of K. We prove that this volume form is a topological knot invariant and explore some of its properties.
Given a homomorphism from a knot group to a fixed group, we introduce an element of a $K_1$-group, which is a generalization of (twisted) Alexander polynomials. We compare this $K_1$-class with other Alexander polynomials. In terms of semi-local rings, we compute the $K_1$-classes of some knots and show their non-triviality. We also introduce metabelian Alexander polynomials.
We show that for a torus knot the SL(2;C) Chern-Simons invariants and the SL(2;C) twisted Reidemeister torsions appear in an asymptotic expansion of the colored Jones polynomial. This suggests a generalization of the volume conjecture that relates the asymptotic behavior of the colored Jones polynomial of a knot to the volume of the knot complement.
Let $LHT$ be a left handed trefoil knot and $K$ be any knot. We define $M_n(K)$ to be the homology $3$-sphere which is represented by a simple link of $LHT$ and $LHT \sharp K$ with framings $0$ and $n$ respectively. Starting with this link, we construct homotopy $K3$ and spin rational homology $K3$ surfaces containing $M_n(K)$. Then we apply the adjunction inequality to show that if $n>2g^n_s(K)-2$, $M_n(K)$ does not bound any smooth spin rational $4$-ball, and that under the same assumption the negative $n$-twisted Whitehead double of $LHT \sharp K$ is not a slice knot, where $g^n_s(K)$ is th…
The first part of this article is a general introduction to the the theory of representation spaces of discrete groups into SL(n,C). Special attention is paid to knot groups. In Section 2 we discuss the difference between the tangent space at the representation variety, and the representation scheme. We give an example of Lubotzky and Magid of a non scheme reduced representation (see Example 2.18). In the second part recent results about the representation and character varieties of knot groups into SL(n,C) with n $\ge$ 3 are presented. This second part concerns mostly joint work with L. Ben A…
We define an elementary relatively $\mathbb Z/4$ graded Lagrangian-Floer chain complex for restricted immersions of compact 1-manifolds into the pillowcase, and apply it to the intersection diagram obtained by taking traceless $SU(2)$ character varieties of 2-tangle decompositions of knots. Calculations for torus knots are explained in terms of pictures in the punctured plane. The relation to the reduced instanton homology of knots is explored.
We prove that, for a hyperbolic two bridge knot, infinitely many Dehn fillings are rigid in $SO_0(4,1)$. Here rigidity means that any discrete and faithful representation in $SO_0(4,1)$ is conjugate to the holonomy representation in $SO_0(3,1)$. We also show local rigidity for almost all Dehn fillings.
Given a knot K in an integral homology sphere with exterior N_K, there is a natural action of the cyclic group Z/n on the space of SL(n,C) representations of the knot group π_1(N_K), and this induces an action on the SL(n,C) character variety. We identify the fixed points of this action in terms of characters of metabelian representations, and we apply this to show that the twisted Alexander polynomial associated to an irreducible metabelian SL(n,C) representation is actually a polynomial in t^n.
We call a knot in the 3-sphere $SU(2)$-simple if all representations of the fundamental group of its complement which map a meridian to a trace-free element in $SU(2)$ are binary dihedral. This is a generalisation of being a 2-bridge knot. Pretzel knots with bridge number $\geq 3$ are not $SU(2)$-simple. We provide an infinite family of knots $K$ with bridge number $\geq 3$ which are $SU(2)$-simple. One expects the instanton knot Floer homology $I^\natural(K)$ of a $SU(2)$-simple knot to be as small as it can be -- of rank equal to the knot determinant $\det(K)$. In fact, the complex underlyin…
Given a knot complement X and its p-fold cyclic cover X_p, we identify twisted polynomials associated to 1-dimensional linear representations of the fundamental group of X_p with twisted polynomials associated to related p-dimensional linear representations of the fundamental group of X. This provides a simpler and faster algorithm to compute these twisted polynomials, allowing us to prove that 16 (of 18 previously unknown) algebraically slice knots of 12 or fewer crossings are not slice. We also use this improved algorithm to prove that the 24 mutants of the pretzel knot P(3,7,9,11,15), corre…
Let $f:S^1\to R$ be a generic map. We may use $f$ to define a new map $\tilde{f}:S^1\to R^3$ by $\tilde{f}(t) = (-f(t),f'(t),-f''(t))$, and if $f$ is an embedding then the image of $\tilde{f}$ will be a knot. Knots defined by such parametrizations are called holonomic knots. They were introduced in 1997 by Vassiliev, who proved that every knot type can be represented by a holonomic knot. Our main result is that any two holonomic knots which represent the same knot type are isotopic in the space of holonomic knots. A second result emerges through the techniques used to prove the main result: st…
We obtain a branched spherical CR structure on the complement of the figure eight knot with a given holonomy representation (called rho_2). There are essentially two boundary unipotent representations from the complement of the figure eight knot into PU(2,1), we call them rho_1 and rho_2. We make explicit some fundamental differences between these two representations. For instance, seeing the figure eight knot complement as a surface bundle over the circle, the behaviour of of the fundamental group of the fiber under the representation is a key difference between rho_1 and rho_2.
Let $Γ$ be the fundamental group of the exterior of a knot in the three-sphere. We study deformations of representations of $Γ$ into $\mathrm{SL}_n(\mathbf{C})$ which are the sum of two irreducible representations. For such representations we give a necessary condition, in terms of the twisted Alexander polynomial, for the existence of irreducible deformations. We also give a more restrictive sufficient condition for the existence of irreducible deformations. We also prove a duality theorem for twisted Alexander polynomials and we describe the local structure of the representation and characte…
Let p be an odd prime and D_p a dihedral group of order 2p. Let ρ: G(K) --> D_p --> GL(p,Z) be a non-abelian representation of the knot group G(K) of a knot K in 3-sphere. Let Δ_{ρ,K} (t) be the twisted Alexander polynomial of K associated to ρ. Let H(p) is the set of 2-bridge knots K, such that G(K) is mapped onto a non-trivial free product Z/2 * Z/p. Then we prove that for any 2-bridge knot K in H(p), Δ_{ρ,K}(t) is of the form Δ_{K}(t)/(1-t) f(t) f(-t) for some integer polynomial f(t), where Δ_K (t) is the Alexander polynomial of K. Further, it is proved that f(t) \equiv {Δ_K (t)/(1+t)}^n (m…
When two boundary-parabolic representations of knot groups are given, we introduce the connected sum of these representations and show several natural properties including the unique factorization property. Furthermore, the complex volume of the connected sum is the sum of each complex volumes modulo $iπ^2$ and the twisted Alexander polynomial of the connected sum is the product of each polynomials with normalization.
We calculate the twisted Alexander polynomials of $(-2,3,2n+1)$-pretzel knots associated to their holonomy representations. As a corollary, we obtain new supporting evidences of Dunfield, Friedl and Jackson's conjecture, that is, the twisted Alexander polynomials of hyperbolic knots associated to their holonomy representations determine the genus and fiberedness of the knots.
For any knot, the following are equivalent. (1) The infinite cyclic cover has uncountably many finite covers; (2) there exists a finite-image representation of the knot group for which the twisted Alexander polynomial vanishes; (3) the knot group admits a finite-image representation such that the image of the fundamental group of an incompressible Seifert surface is a proper subgroup of the image of the commutator subgroup of the knot group.
We study the twisted Alexander polynomial $Δ_{K,ρ}$ of a knot $K$ associated to a non-abelian representation $ρ$ of the knot group into $SL_2(\BC)$. It is known for every knot $K$ that if $K$ is fibered, then for every non-abelian representation, $Δ_{K,ρ}$ is monic and has degree $4g(K)-2$ where $g(K)$ is the genus of $K$. Kim and Morifuji recently proved the converse for 2-bridge knots. In fact they proved a stronger result: if a 2-bridge knot $K$ is non-fibered, then all but finitely many non-abelian representations on some component have $Δ_{K,ρ}$ non-monic and degree $4g(K)-2$. In this pap…
A generalization of the volume conjecture relates the asymptotic behavior of the colored Jones polynomial of a knot to the Chern--Simons invariant and the Reidemeister torsion of the knot complement associated with a representation of the fundamental group to the special linear group of degree two over complex numbers. If the knot is hyperbolic, the representation can be regarded as a deformation of the holonomy representation that determines the complete hyperbolic structure. In this article we study a similar phenomenon when the knot is a twice-iterated torus knot. In this case, the asymptot…
The complete classification of representations of the Trefoil knot group G in S^{3} and SL(2,R), their affine deformations, and some geometric interpretations of the results, are given. Among other results, we also obtain the classification up to conjugacy of the non cyclic groups of affine Euclidean isometries generated by two isometries $μ$ and $ν$ such that $μ^{2}=ν^{3}=1$, in particular those which are crystallographic. We also prove that there are no affine crystallographic groups in the three dimensional Minkowski space which are quotients of G.
