We describe an algorithm for determining whether a finite quandle is isomorphic to an Alexander quandle by finding all possible Alexander presentations of the quandle. We give an implementation of this algorithm in Maple.
Ishii and Oshiro introduced the notion of an $f$-twisted Alexander matrix, which is a quandle version of a twisted Alexander matrix and defined an invariant of finitely presented quandles. In this paper, we study $f$-twisted Alexander matrices of certain quandles with the Alexander pair obtained from a quandle 2-cocycle. We show that the 0-th elementary ideal of $f$-twisted Alexander matrix of the knot quandle of a surface knot with the Alexander pair obtained from a quandle 2-cocycle can be described with the Carter-Saito-Satoh's invariant. We also discuss a relationship between $f$-twisted A…
A. Ishii and K. Oshiro introduced the notion of an $f$-twisted Alexander matrix. This notion is a quandle version of the twisted Alexander matrix which was introduced by M. Wada. They showed that the twisted Alexander matrix of a pair of a link group and a group representation can be recovered from the $f$-twisted Alexander matrix of a pair of a link quandle and a quandle homomorphism. In this paper, we study a relationship between the $f$-twisted Alexander matrix and the quandle cocycle invariant. As an application, we show that an $f$-twisted Alexander invariant of knot quandles is a really …
Cocycles are constructed by polynomial expressions for Alexander quandles. As applications, non-triviality of some quandle homology groups are proved, and quandle cocycle invariants of knots are studied. In particular, for an infinite family of quandles, the non-triviality of quandle homology groups is proved for all odd dimensions.
Joyce observed that the Alexander invariant and the medial quandle of a classical knot are equivalent to each other, as invariants. In the present paper, we discuss the rather complicated extension of Joyce's observation to several different medial quandles and reduced (one-variable) Alexander modules associated with classical links. The theme is that for links, medial quandles provide stronger invariants than reduced Alexander modules.
In this paper, we study the colorability of link diagrams by the Alexander quandles. We show that if the reduced Alexander polynomial $Δ_{L}(t)$ is vanishing, then $L$ admits a non-trivial coloring by any non-trivial Alexander quandle $Q$, and that if $Δ_{L}(t)=1$, then $L$ admits only the trivial coloring by any Alexander quandle $Q$, also show that if $Δ_{L}(t)\not=0, 1$, then $L$ admits a non-trivial coloring by the Alexander quandle $Λ/(Δ_{L}(t))$.
We prove that an Alexander quandle of prime order is generated by any pair of distinct elements. Furthermore, we prove for such a quandle that any ordered pair of distinct elements can be sent to any other such pair by an automorphism of the quandle.
A quandle is an algebra whose axioms are motivated from knot theory. A linear extension of a quandle can be described by using a pair of maps called an Alexander pair. In this paper, we show that a linear extension of a multiple conjugation quandle can be described by using a pair of maps called an MCQ Alexander pair, where a multiple conjugation quandle is an algebra whose axioms are motivated from handlebody-knot theory.
A multiple conjugation quandle is an algebra whose axioms are motivated from handlebody-knot theory. Any linear extension of a multiple conjugation quandle can be described by using a pair of maps called an MCQ Alexander pair. In this paper, we show that any affine extension of a multiple conjugation quandle can be described by using a quadruple of maps, called an augmented MCQ Alexander pair.
The multivariate Alexander module of a link L has several subsets that admit quandle operations defined using the module operations. One of them, the fundamental multivariate Alexander quandle, determines the link module sequence of L.
We determine the third cohomology of Alexander quandles of the form F_q[T]/(T-omega), where F_q denotes the finite field of order q and omega is an element of F-q which is neither 0 nor 1. As a result, we obtain many concrete examples of non-trivial 3-cocycles.
If $L$ is a classical link then the multivariate Alexander quandle, $Q_A(L)$, is a substructure of the multivariate Alexander module, $M_A(L)$. In the first paper of this series we showed that if two links $L$ and $L'$ have $Q_A(L) \cong Q_A(L')$, then after an appropriate re-indexing of the components of $L$ and $L'$, there will be a module isomorphism $M_A(L) \cong M_A(L')$ of a particular type, which we call a"Crowell equivalence." In the present paper we show that $Q_A(L)$ (up to quandle isomorphism) is a strictly stronger link invariant than $M_A(L)$ (up to re-indexing and Crowell equival…
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.
Quandles with good involutions, which are called symmetric quandles, can be used to define invariants of unoriented knots and links. In this paper, we determine the necessary and sufficient condition for good involutions of a generalized Alexander quandle to exist. Moreover, we classify all good involutions of a connected generalized Alexander quandle up to symmetric quandle isomorphisms.
Isomorphism classes of Alexander quandles of order 16 are determined, and classes of connected quandles are identified. This paper extends the list of known distinct connected finite Alexander quandles.
For any twisted conjugate quandle $Q$, and in particular any Alexander quandle, there exists a group $G$ such that $Q$ is embedded into the conjugation quandle of $G$.
Two finite Alexander quandles with the same number of elements are isomorphic iff their Z[t,t^-1]-submodules Im(1-t) are isomorphic as modules. This yields specific conditions on when Alexander quandles of the form Z_n[t,t^-1]/(t-a) where gcd(n,a)=1 (called linear quandles) are isomorphic, as well as specific conditions on when two linear quandles are dual and which linear quandles are connected. We apply this result to obtain a procedure for classifying Alexander quandles of any finite order and as an application we list the numbers of distinct and connected Alexander quandles with up to fift…
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.
The goal of this paper is to characterization generalized Alexander quandles of finite groups in the language of the underlying groups. Firstly, we prove that if finite groups $G$ are simple, then the quandle isomorphic classes of generalized Alexander quandles of $G$ one-to-one correspond to the conjugacy classes of the automorphism groups of $G$. This correspondence can be also claimed for the case of symmetric groups. Secondly, we give a characterization of generalized Alexander quandles of finite groups $G$ under some assumptions in terms of $G$. As corollaries of this characterization, we…
In a recent paper, Allen and Swenberg investigated which link polynomials are capable of detecting causality in (2+1)-dimensional globally hyperbolic spacetimes. They ultimately suggested it is likely that the Jones Polynomial accomplishes this, while the Alexander-Conway polynomial, independently, is insufficient. As the Alexander-Conway polynomial on its own is not likely to detect causality an additional piece of information must be supplemented to the link polynomial. This paper aims to examine the ability of Alexander quandles, to distinguish the connected sum of two Hopf links and Allen-…
We determine the second, third, and fourth cohomology groups of Alexander $f$-quandles of the form $\mathbb{F}_q[T,S]/ (T-ω, S-β)$, where $\mathbb{F}_q$ denotes the finite field of order $q$, $ω\in \mathbb{F}_q\setminus \{0,1\}$, and $β\in \mathbb{F}_q$
We improve the lower bound for the minimum number of colors for linear Alexander quandle colorings of a knot given in Theorem 1.2 of Colorings beyond Fox: The other linear Alexander quandles (Linear Algebra and its Applications, Vol. 548, 2018). We express this lower bound in terms of the degree k of the reduced Alexander polynomial of the considered knot. We show that it is exactly k + 1 for L-space knots. Then we apply these results to torus knots and Pretzel knots P(-2,3,2l + 1), l>=0. We note that this lower bound can be attained for some particular knots. Furthermore, we show that Theorem…
We give a formula of the connected component decomposition of the Alexander quandle: $\mathbb{Z}[t^{\pm1}]/(f_1(t),\ldots, f_k(t))=\bigsqcup^{a-1}_{i=0}\mathrm{Orb}(i)$, where $a=\gcd (f_1(1),\ldots, f_k(1))$. We show that the connected component $\mathrm{Orb}(i)$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}[t^{\pm1}]/J$ with an explicit ideal $J$. By using this, we see how a quandle is decomposed into connected components for some Alexander quandles. We introduce a decomposition of a quandle into the disjoint union of maximal connected subquandles. In some cases, this decomposition is obtained by iterating a…
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.
A condition of admissibility for generalized Alexander quandles
Kyoto Meitoku High School(京都明德高中);Faculty of Education, Yamaguchi University(山口大学教育学部);Center for Educational Research of Science and Mathematics, Nara University of Education(奈良教育大学数理教育研究中心)
Joyce showed that for a classical knot $K$, the involutory medial quandle $\text{IMQ}(K)$ is isomorphic to the core quandle of the homology group $H_1(X_2)$, where $X_2$ is the cyclic double cover of $\mathbb S ^3$, branched over $K$. It follows that $|\text{IMQ}(K)| = | \det K |$. In the present paper, the extension of Joyce's result to classical links is discussed. Among other things, we show that for a classical link $L$ of $μ\geq 2$ components, the order of the involutory medial quandle is bounded as follows: \[ \frac{μ| \det L |}{2} \geq |\text{IMQ}(L)| \geq \frac{ μ| \det L |} {2^{μ-1}}.…
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.
Quandle is an algebraic system with one binary operation, but it is quite different from a group. Quandle has its origin in the knot theory and good relationships with the theory of symmetric spaces, so it is well-studied from points of view of both areas. In the present paper, we investigate a special kind of quandles, called generalized Alexander quandles $Q(G,ψ)$, which is defined by a group $G$ together with its group automorphism $ψ$. We develop the quandle invariants for generalized Alexander quandles. As a result, we prove that there is a one-to-one correspondence between generalized Al…
The set consisting of all rotations of the Euclidean plane is equipped with a quandle structure. We show that a knot is colorable by this quandle if and only if its Alexander polynomial has a root on the unit circle in $\mathbb{C}$. Further we enumerate all non-trivial colorings of a torus knot diagram by the quandle using PL trochoids. As an application of these results, we have the complete factorization of the Alexander polynomial of the torus knot.
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…
We denote by Q_F the family of the Alexander quandle structures supported by finite fields. For every k-component oriented link L, every partition P of L into h:=|P| sublinks, and every labelling z of such a partition by the natural numbers z_1,...,z_n, the number of X-colorings of any diagram of (L,z) is a well-defined invariant of (L,P), of the form q^(a_X(L,P,z)+1) for some natural number a_X(L,P,z). Letting X and z vary in Q_F and among the labellings of P, we define a derived invariant A_Q(L,P)=sup a_X(L,P,z). If P_M is such that |P_M|=k, we show that A_Q(L,P_M) is a lower bound for t(L),…
In this paper we look for closed expressions to calculate the number of colourings of prime knots for given linear Alexander quandles. For this purpose the colouring matrices are simplified to a triangular form, when possible. The operations used to perform this triangularization preserve the property that the entries in each row add up to zero, thereby simplifying the solution of the equations giving the number of colourings. When the colouring matrices (of prime knots up to ten crossings) can be triangularized, closed expressions giving the number of colourings can be obtained in a straightf…
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.
Finite quandles with n elements can be represented as n-by-n matrices. We show how to use these matrices to distinguish all isomorphism classes of finite quandles for a given cardinality n, as well as how to compute the automorphism group of each finite quandle. As an application, we classify finite quandles with up to 5 elements and compute the automorphism group for each quandle.
Let $G$ be a group and $φ\in \Aut(G)$. Then the set $G$ equipped with the binary operation $a*b=φ(ab^{-1})b$ gives a quandle structure on $G$, denoted by $\Alex(G, φ)$ and called the generalised Alexander quandle. When $G$ is additive abelian and $φ= -\id_G$, then $\Alex(G, φ)$ is the well-known Takasaki quandle. In this paper, we determine the group of automorphisms and inner automorphisms of Takasaki quandles of abelian groups with no 2-torsion, and Alexander quandles of finite abelian groups with respect to fixed-point free automorphisms. As an application, we prove that if $G\cong (\mathbb…
This article is about applications of linear algebra to knot theory. For example, for odd prime p, there is a rule (given in the article) for coloring the arcs of a knot or link diagram from the residues mod p. This is a knot invariant in the sense that if a diagram of the knot under study admits such a coloring, then so does any other diagram of the same knot. This is called p-colorability. It is also associated to systems of linear homogeneous equations over the residues mod p, by regarding the arcs of the diagram as variables and assigning the equation "twice the over-arc minus the sum of t…
We prove that if Q is a finite quasigroup quandle, then |Q| annihilates the torsion of its homology. It is a classical result in reduced homology of finite groups that the order of a group annihilates its homology. From the very beginning of the rack homology (between 1990 and 1995) the analogous result was suspected. The first general results in this direction were obtained independently about 2001 by R.A.Litherland and S.Nelson, and P.Etingof and M.Grana. In Litherland-Nelson paper it is proven that if (Q;*) is a finite homogeneous rack (this includes quasigroup racks) then the torsion of ho…
Carter, Jelsovsky, Kamada, Langford and Saito have defined an invariant of classical links associated to each element of the second cohomology of a finite quandle. We study these invariants for Alexander quandles of the form Z[t,t^{-1}]/(p, t^2 + kappa t + 1), where p is a prime number and t^2 + kappa t + 1 is irreducible modulo p. For each such quandle, there is an invariant with values in the group ring Z[C_p] of a cyclic group of order p. We shall show that the values of this invariant all have the form Gamma_p^r p^{2s} for a fixed element Gamma_p of Z[C_p] and integers r >= 0 and s > 0. We…
We prove that for n>2 there exists a quandle of cyclic type of size n if and only if n is a power of a prime number. This establishes a conjecture of S. Kamada, H. Tamaru and K. Wada. As a corollary, every finite quandle of cyclic type is an Alexander quandle. We also prove that finite doubly transitive quandles are of cyclic type. This establishes a conjecture of H. Tamaru.
We show that the lower bounds for Betti numbers given in math.GT/9909161 are equalities for a class of racks that includes dihedral and Alexander racks. We confirm a conjecture from the same paper by defining a splitting for the short exact sequence of quandle chain complexes. We define isomorphisms between Alexander racks of certain forms, and we also list the second and third homology groups of some dihedral and Alexander quandles.
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,…
A birack is an algebraic structure with axioms encoding the blackboard-framed Reidemeister moves, incorporating quandles, racks, strong biquandles and semiquandles as special cases. In this paper we extend the counting invariant for finite racks to the case of finite biracks. We introduce a family of biracks generalizing Alexander quandles, $(t,s)$-racks, Alexander biquandles and Silver-Williams switches, known as $(τ,σ,ρ)$-biracks. We consider enhancements of the counting invariant using writhe vectors, image subbiracks, and birack polynomials.
The knot coloring polynomial defined by Eisermann for a finite pointed group is generalized to an infinite pointed group as the longitudinal mapping invariant of a knot. In turn this can be thought of as a generalization of the quandle 2-cocycle invariant for finite quandles. If the group is a topological group then this invariant can be thought of a topological generalization of the 2-cocycle invariant. The longitudinal mapping invariant is based on a meridian-longitude pair in the knot group. We also give an interpretation of the invariant in terms of quandle colorings of a 1-tangle for gene…
We describe a way of representing finite biquandles with n elements as 2n x 2n block matrices. Any finite biquandle defines an invariant of virtual knots through counting homomorphisms. The counting invariants of non-quandle biquandles can reveal information not present in the knot quandle, such as the non-triviality of the virtual trefoil and various Kishino knots. We also exhibit a virtual knot which is distinguished from its obverse and its reverse by a finite biquandle counting invariant. We classify biquandles of order 2, 3 and 4 and provide a URL for our Maple programs for computing with…
We explain an algorithm for finding a boundary link Seifert matrix for a given Alexander polynomial. The algorithm depends on several choices and therefore makes it possible to find non-equivalent Seifert matrices for a given Alexander polynomial.
We define a filtration on the vector space spanned by Seifert matrices of knots related to Vassiliev's filtration on the space of knots. Further we show that the invariants of knots derived from the filtration can be expressed by coefficients of the Alexander polynomial.
We develop an algorithm for computing generalized Seifert matrices for colored links given as closures of colored braids. The algorithm has been implemented by the second author as a computer program called Clasper. Clasper also outputs the Conway potential function, the multivariable Alexander polynomial and the Cimasoni-Florens signatures of a link, and displays a visualization of the C-complex used for producing the generalized Seifert matrices.
We connect two important conjectures in the theory of knot polynomials. The first one is the property Al_R(q) = Al_{[1]}(q^{|R|}) for all single hook Young diagrams R, which is known to hold for all knots. The second conjecture claims that all the mixing matrices U_{i} in the relation {\cal R}_i = U_i{\cal R}_1U_i^{-1} between the i-th and the first generators {\cal R}_i of the braid group are universally expressible through the eigenvalues of {\cal R}_1. Since the above property of Alexander polynomials is very well tested, this relation provides a new support to the eigenvalue conjecture, es…
In their precedent work, the authors constructed closed oriented hyperbolic surfaces with pseudo-Anosov homeomorphisms from certain class of integral matrices. In this paper, we present a very simple algorithm to compute the Teichmueller polynomial corresponding to those surface homeomorphisms by first constructing an invariant track whose first homology group can be naturally identified with the first homology group of the surface, and computing its Alexander polynomial.