arXiv research

New (3+1) TQFTs created from non-semisimple categories.

New categories from TQFTs interpret skein relations.

Propose a model-independent axiomatic framework for derived skein theory.

Involutive Hopf monoids yield surface invariants.

The paper defines cyclic sets from ribbon string links and connects them to quantum invariants.

The Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant, Turaev's TQFT, and many related constructions rely on the encoding of certain tangles (n-string links, or ribbon n-handles) as n-forms on the coend of a ribbon category. We introduce the monoidal category of Hopf diagrams, and describe a universal encoding of ribbon string links as Hop…

We consider two approaches to isotopy invariants of oriented links: one from ribbon categories and the other from generalized Yang-Baxter operators with appropriate enhancements. The generalized Yang-Baxter operators we consider are obtained from so-called gYBE objects following a procedure of Kitaev and Wang. We show …

Quantum invariant derived from ternary cohomology of self-distributive structures.

Functor connects 4D 2-handlebodies to ribbon categories, detecting non-deformation diffeomorphisms.

New skein categories for non-semisimple settings, extending existing theory.

For a group G, the notion of a ribbon G-category was introduced by the second author in a previous work with a view towards constructing 3-dimensional homotopy quantum field theories (HQFT's) with target K(G,1). We discuss here how to derive ribbon G-categories from a simple complex Lie algebra g where G is the center …

We use modified traces to renormalize Lyubashenko's closed 3-manifold invariants coming from twist non-degenerate finite unimodular ribbon categories. Our construction produces new topological invariants which we upgrade to 2+1-TQFTs under the additional assumption of factorizability. The resulting functors provide mon…

We define the notion of a Kirby element of a ribbon category C (not necessarily semisimple). Kirby elements lead to 3-manifolds invariants. We characterize (in terms of the structure maps of some categorical Hopf algebra) a set of Kirby elements of C which is sufficiently large to recover the known quantum invariants c…

We construct what we call a Kirby category, a monoidal category whose morphisms are smooth 4-manifolds, projecting down to another monoidal category whose morphisms are orientable 3-manifolds, the projection being induced by the boundary map on manifolds. We construct a higher categorical generalization of such concept…

Internalizes Turaev's construction for TQFTs using ribbon categories.

Abstract: Mapping class groups act on cohomology of surfaces via Hochschild cohomology.

We define a category $v\mathcal{T}$ of tangles diagrams drawn on surfaces with boundaries. On the one hand we show that there is a natural functor from the category of virtual tangles to $v\mathcal{T}$ which induces an equivalence of categories. On the other hand, we show that $v\mathcal{T}$ is universal among ribbon c…

Calculates Dehn twist actions on conformal blocks for modular categories.

A new approach to Morse theory using folded ribbon trees.

Introduces XC-tangles for quantum tangle invariants.

Quantum invariants for surfaces in 4D 2-handlebodies.

Study on prime knots, slice obstructions, and ribbon concordances.

We introduce the notion of a relative spherical category. We prove that such a category gives rise to the generalized Kashaev and Turaev-Viro-type 3-manifold invariants defined in arXiv:1008.3103 and arXiv:0910.1624, respectively. In this case we show that these invariants are equal and extend to what we call a relativ…

This paper studies finite type invariants for welded string links and ribbon tubes, showing characterizations and algebraic structures.

We develop the general theory for the construction of Extended Topological Quantum Field Theories (ETQFTs) associated with the Costantino-Geer-Patureau quantum invariants of closed 3-manifolds. In order to do so, we introduce relative modular categories, a class of ribbon categories which are modeled on representations…

In a previous paper, we introduced special types of fusions, so called simple-ribbon fusions on links. A knot obtained from the trivial knot by a finite sequence of simple-ribbon fusions is called a simple-ribbon knot. Every ribbon knot with <10 crossings is a simple-ribbon knot. In this paper, we give a formula for th…

New bounds found for ribbon numbers of knots and links.

A bottom tangle is a tangle in a cube consisting only of arc components, each of which has the two endpoints on the bottom line of the cube, placed next to each other. We introduce a subcategory B of the category of framed, oriented tangles, which acts on the set of bottom tangles. We give a finite set of generators of…

Researchers compare two methods for handlebody constructions, finding they are related with a 'background charge'.

Extends Heisenberg homology to ribbon graphs.

The paper classifies homotopy ribbon discs with specific groups.

The study limits the number of ribbon concordant fibered knots.

It is known that every ribbon category with unimodality allows symmetrized $6j$-symbols with full tetrahedral symmetries while a spherical category does not in general. We give an explicit counterexample for this, namely the category $\mathcal{E}$. We define the mirror conjugate symmetry of $6j$-symbols instead and sho…

In this paper we study infinitesimal and finite flexibility for generic semidiscrete surfaces. We prove that generic 2-ribbon semidiscrete surfaces have one degree of infinitesimal and finite flexibility. In particular we write down a system of differential equations describing isometric deformations in the case of exi…

We show that the renormalized quantum invariants of links and graphs in the 3-sphere, derived from tensor categories in ["Modified quantum dimensions and re-normalized link invariants", arXiv:0711.4229] lead to modified 6j-symbols and to new state sum 3-manifold invariants. We give examples of categories such that the …

We prove recognition theorems for codimension one manifold factors of dimension $n \geq 4$. In particular, we formalize topographical methods and introduce three ribbons properties: the crinkled ribbons property, the twisted crinkled ribbons property, and the fuzzy ribbons property. We show that $X \times \mathbb{R}$ i…

We show that for any n > 3 there exists an equivalence functor from the category of n-fold connected simple coverings of B^3 x [0, 1] branched over ribbon surface tangles up to certain local ribbon moves, to the category Chb^{3+1} of orientable relative 4-dimensional 2-handlebody cobordisms up to 2-deformations. As a c…

We construct a state-sum type invariant of smooth closed oriented $4$-manifolds out of a $G$-crossed braided spherical fusion category ($G$-BSFC) for $G$ a finite group. The construction can be extended to obtain a $(3+1)$-dimensional topological quantum field theory (TQFT). The invariant of $4$-manifolds generalizes s…

Kervaire's sphere-link is equivalent to a ribbon sphere-link, simplifying complex 2-complexes.

We present an invariant of connected and oriented closed 3-manifolds based on a coribbon Weak Hopf Algebra H with a suitable left-integral. Our invariant can be understood as the generalization to Weak Hopf Algebras of the Hennings-Kauffman-Radford evaluation of an unoriented framed link using a dual quantum-trace. Thi…

Refines a tangle invariant using XC-algebras.

Skein theory classifies UFCs with specific fusion rules.

We consider ribbon n-knots for n\geq 2. For such knots we define a set of moves on ribbon disks, and show that any two ribbon disks for isotopic knots are related by a finite sequence of such moves and ambient isotopies. Using this we are able to prove that there is a natural geometric correspondence between ribbon n-k…

Ribbon tangles are proper embeddings of tori and cylinders in the $4$-ball~$B^4$, "bounding" $3$-manifolds with only ribbon disks as singularities. We construct an Alexander invariant $\mathsf{A}$ of ribbon tangles equipped with a representation of the fundamental group of their exterior in a free abelian group $G$. Th…

This paper shows that only finitely many knots can be ribbon concordant to any given knot.

This article introduces planar ribbons, Vergili ribbon complexes and ribbon nerves in Alexandroff-Hopf-Whitehead CW (Closure finite Weak) topological spaces. A {\em planar ribbon} (briefly, {ribbon}) in a CW space is the closure of a pair of nesting, non-concentric filled cycles that includes the boundary but does not …

We introduce ribbon-moves of 2-knots, which are operations to make 2-knots into new 2-knots by local operations in B^4. (We do not assume the new knots is not equivalent to the old ones.) Let L_1 and L_2 be 2-links. Then the following hold. (1) If L_1 is ribbon-move equivalent to L_2, then we have μ(L_1)=μ(L_2). (2) Su…

Study ribbon concordance and minimal compressions, proving new results about fibered knots.