arXiv research

We show two results about the Conway potential function which is known as the normalized multivariable Alexander polynomial. We first show that the Conway potential function introduced by Kauffman in "Formal Knot Theory" is indeed a link invariant. Next we show that Kauffman's potential function equals Hartley's potent…

We give a geometric construction of the multivariable Conway potential function for colored links. In the case of a single color, it is Kauffman's definition of the Conway polynomial in terms of a Seifert matrix.

A weight system is defined from the (multivariable) Conway potential function. We also show that it can be calculated recursively by using five axioms.

We give a closed formula for the multivariable Conway potential function of any graph link in a homology sphere. As corollaries, we answer three questions by Walter Neumann about graph links.

The Conway potential function (CPF) for colored links is a convenient version of the multi-variable Alexander-Conway polynomial. We give a skein characterization of CPF, much simpler than the one by Murakami. In particular, Conway's `smoothing of crossings' is not in the axioms. The proof uses a reduction scheme in a t…

We show how Conway's multivariable potential function can be constructed using braids and the reduced Gassner representation. The resulting formula is a multivariable generalization of a construction, due to Kassel-Turaev, of the Alexander-Conway polynomial in terms of the Burau representation. Apart from providing an …

Corrected a false lemma in Cimasoni's work on linking theory.

We give a closed formula for the Conway function of a splice in terms of the Conway function of its splice components. As corollaries, we refine and generalize results of Seifert, Torres, and Sumners-Woods.

Paper defines half-Conway polynomial and computes it for knots up to 12 crossings.

Given an oriented link in the 3-sphere, the Euler characteristic of its link Floer homology is known to coincide with its multivariate Alexander polynomial, an invariant only defined up to a sign and powers of the variables. In this paper, we get rid of this ambiguity by proving that this Euler characteristic is equal …

A string link S can be closed in a canonical way to produce an ordinary closed link L. We also consider a twisted closing which produces a knot K. We give a formula for the Conway polynomial of L as a product of the Conway polynomial of K times a power series whose coefficients are given as explicit functions of the Mi…

The multivariable Conway function is generalized to oriented framed trivalent graphs equipped with additional structure (coloring). This is done via refinements of Reshetikhin-Turaev functors based on irreducible representations of quantized gl(1|1) and sl(2). The corresponding face state sum models for the generalized…

Algorithm calculates Seifert matrices for colored links.

In~\cite{Kim} the author generalized the Conway algebra and constructed the invariant valued in the generalized Conway algebra defined by applying two skein relations to crossings, which is called a generalized Conway type invariant. The generalized Conway type invariant is a generalization of Homflypt polynomial. In t…

A simplified proof of the Alexander-Conway polynomial exists.

We consider an algebra of (classical or virtual) tangles over an ordered circuit operad and introduce Conway-type invariants of tangles which respect this algebraic structure. The resulting invariants contain both the coefficients of the Conway polynomial and the Milnor's mu-invariants of string links as partial cases.…

L-space knots lack essential Conway spheres, proven with Floer theory.

The paper characterizes Conway-Coxeter friezes using rational links.

The slope invariant is shown to be unchanged by concordance of colored links.

In this paper we construct a multivariable link invariant arising from the quantum group associated to the special linear Lie superalgebra sl(2|1). The usual quantum group invariant of links associated to (generic) representations of sl(2|1) is trivial. However, we modify this construction and define a nontrivial link …

We define the slope of a colored link in an integral homology sphere, associated to admissible characters on the link group. Away from a certain singular locus, the slope is a rational function which can be regarded as a multivariate generalization of the Kojima--Yamasaki $η$-function. It is the ratio of two Conway pot…

In the present paper, we build a bridge between Conway-Coxeter friezes and rational tangles through the Kauffman bracket polynomials. One can compute a Kauffman bracket polynomials attached to rational links by using Conway-Coxeter friezes. As an application one can give a complete invariant on Conway-Coxeter friezes o…

We note that the Conway potential function $Ω_L$ of an $m$-component link $L$, $m>1$, can be expressed as $Ω_L(x_1,\dots,x_m)=Θ_L(\nabla_L(x_1-x_1^{-1},\dots,x_m-x_m^{-1}))$ for a unique $\nabla_L\in\mathbb Z[z_1,\dots,z_m]$, where $Θ_L$ is a certain endomorphism of the additive group of $\mathbb Z[x_1^{\pm1},\dots,x_m…

The Conway knot can't be smoothly tied to any other knot an infinite number of times.

We obtain bounds on hyperbolic volume for periodic links and Conway sums of alternating tangles. For links that are Conway sums we also bound the hyperbolic volume in terms of the coefficients of the Jones polynomial.

Khovanov homology invariant under Conway mutation.

Lisa Piccirillo solved the mystery of the Conway knot's sliceness.

In this chapter (Chapter III) we introduce the concept of Conway algebras (the notion related to entropic magmas) and describe invariants of links yielded by (partial) Conway algebras (including the Homflypt polynomial and signatures). We present, in detail, a proof (following the original Przytycki-Traczyk 1984 proof)…

Families of alternating knots (links) and tangles are studied using as building block the conway defined as the twisting of two strands. The regular representation of knots assumes the projection has the minimal number of overpassings, and the minimal number of conways. The continued fraction associated to rational kno…

Two knot families meet cosmetic surgery conjecture.

Extends Benard-Conway invariant to all two-component links.

Simplified proof for a theorem about graphs.

Study proves nontrivial knots can't undergo cosmetic surgeries.

In 1983, Conway and Gordon proved that for every spatial complete graph on six vertices, the sum of the linking numbers over all of the constituent two-component links is odd, and that for every spatial complete graph on seven vertices, the sum of the Arf invariants over all of the Hamiltonian knots is odd. In 2009, th…

Turning the skein relation for HOMFLY into a Fibonacci recurrence, we prove that there are only three rational specializations of HOMFLY polynomial: Alexander-Conway, Jones, and a new one. Using the recurrence relation, we find general and relative expansion formulae and rational generating functions for Alexander-Conw…

We give a counterexample to the Kawauchi conjecture on the Conway polynomial of achiral knots which asserts that the Conway polynomial $C(z)$ of an achiral knot satisfies the splitting property $C(z)=F(z)F(-z)$ for a polynomial $F(z)$ with integer coefficients. We show that the Bonahon-Siebenmann decomposition of an ac…

New theorem shows every integer can be represented by knot summation.

New method characterizes thin links via Conway spheres and tangle decompositions.

The Magnus expansion is a universal finite type invariant of pure braids with values in the space of horizontal chord diagrams. The Conway polynomial composed with the short circuit map from braids to knots gives rise to a series of finite type invariants of pure braids and thus factors through the Magnus map. We descr…

We describe the Polyak-Viro arrow diagram formulas for the coefficients of the Conway polynomial. As a consequence, we obtain the Conway polynomial as a state sum over some subsets of the crossings of the knot diagram. It turns out to be a simplification of a special case of Jaeger's state model for the HOMFLY polynomi…

The purpose of this paper is to present a certain combinatorial method of constructing invariants of isotopy classes of oriented tame links. This arises as a generalization of the known polynomial invariants of Conway and Jones. These invariants have one striking common feature. If L+, L- and L0 are diagrams of oriente…

John Conway created pairs of domains that sound the same for a special kind of music.

Empirical evidence suggests link polynomials can detect causality in spacetimes.

Formula found for a specific knot's A-polynomial.

We exhibit relations between van Kampen-Flores, Conway-Gordon-Sachs and Radon theorems, by presenting direct proofs of some implications between them. The key idea is an interesting relation between the van Kampen and the Conway-Gordon-Sachs numbers for restrictions of a map of $(d+2)$-simplex to $\mathbb R^d$ to the $…

Study connects taffy pulling, fractions, and rational tangles.

We give a Conway-Gordon type formula for invariants of knots and links in a spatial complete four-partite graph $K_{3,3,1,1}$ in terms of the square of the linking number and the second coefficient of the Conway polynomial. As an application, we show that every rectilinear spatial $K_{3,3,1,1}$ contains a nontrivial Ha…

We prove that any Bonahon-Siebenmann family of Conway spheres for a hyperbolic link is associated to an ideal point of the character variety of the link.