© | << < ? > >> | Dror Bar-Natan: Talks:

w-Knots, from Z to A

Dror Bar-Natan, University of Toronto

Bahen 6183, Tuesday May 18, 2010, 2-4PM

Abstract. I will define w-knots, a class of knots wider than ordinary knots but weaker than virtual knots, and show that it is quite easy to construct a universal finite invariant Z of w-knots. In order to study Z we will introduce the "Euler Operator" and the "Infinitesimal Alexander Module", at the end finding a simple determinant formula for Z. With no doubt that formula computes the Alexander polynomial A, except I don't have a proof yet.

Handout. Z2A.html, Z2A.pdf

Video Part 1, Video Part 2.

See also Finite Type Invariants of w-Knotted Objects: From Alexander to Kashiwara and Vergne.