2013/02/22 by Dror Bar-Natan, Bar-Natan, Dror, Sam Alexandre Selmani +2
Computer Science · Mathematics · #57M25 #Algebraic Topology (math.AT) #FOS: Mathematics #Geometric Topology (math.GT) #Geometric and Algebraic Topology #Homotopy and Cohomology in Algebraic Topology #Quantum Algebra (math.QA) #math.AT #math.GT #math.QA #msc:57M25 #semigroups and automata theory
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1302.5689
14 pages; minor changes; to appear in JKTR
openalex publication_date 2013/02/22 · arxiv created 2013/09/13 · arxiv updated 2013/09/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We introduce a new invariant of tangles along with an algebraic framework in which to understand it. We claim that the invariant contains the classical Alexander polynomial of knots and its multivariable extension to links. We argue that of the computationally efficient members of the family of Alexander invariants, it is the most meaningful. These are lecture notes for talks given by the first author, written and completed by the second. The talks, with handouts and videos, are available at http://www.math.toronto.edu/drorbn/Talks/Regina-1206/. See also further comments at http://www.math.toronto.edu/drorbn/Talks/Caen-1206/#June8.