arXiv research

Develops invariants for webs and foams using Seiberg-Witten theory.

Generators and relations found for foam categories.

Foams have Lie algebra symmetries that simplify web state spaces.

SU(3) instanton homology counts Tait colorings for webs and foams.

Lectures introduce evaluation of SL(3) foams and link homology.

The paper evaluates homology for links in a solid torus with special boundary conditions.

Define web algebras for annular SL(2) and SL(3) using foam TQFTs.

We construct the universal sl(2)-tangle cohomology using an approach with webs and dotted foams. This theory depends on two parameters, and for the case of links it is a categorification of the unnormalized Jones polynomial of the link.

We use SO(3) gauge theory to define a functor from a category of unoriented webs and foams to the category of finite-dimensional vector spaces over the field of two elements. We prove a non-vanishing theorem for this SO(3) instanton homology of webs, using Gabai's sutured manifold theory. It is hoped that the non-vanis…

After shortly recalling the construction of the Khovanov-Kuperberg algebras, we give a characterisation of indecomposable web-modules. It says that a web-module is indecomposable if and only if one can deduce it directly from the Kuperberg bracket (via a Schur lemma argument). The proofs relies on the construction of i…

We define parameter dependent $\mathfrak{gl}_2$-foams and their associated web and arc algebras, and verify that they specialize to several known $\mathfrak{sl}_2$ or $\mathfrak{gl}_2$ constructions related to higher link and tangle invariants. Moreover, we show that all these specializations are equivalent, and we ded…

Study of unoriented SL(4) foams in 3-manifolds.

Kronheimer and Mrowka recently suggested a possible approach towards a new proof of the four color theorem that does not rely on computer calculations. Their approach is based on a functor $J^\sharp$, which they define using gauge theory, from the category of webs and foams to the category of vector spaces over the fie…

Proves Khovanov homology functoriality and positivity for gl2 webs.

We give a purely combinatorial construction of colored $\mathfrak{sl}_n$ link homology. The invariant takes values in a 2-category where 2-morphisms are given by foams, singular cobordisms between $\mathfrak{sl}_n$ webs; applying a (TQFT-like) representable functor recovers (colored) Khovanov-Rozansky homology. Novel f…

Functors from web categories differ despite similar definitions.

We provide a finite dimensional categorification of the symmetric evaluation of $\mathfrak{sl}_N$-webs using foam technology. As an output we obtain a symmetric link homology theory categorifying the link invariant associated to symmetric powers of the standard representation of $\mathfrak{sl}_N$. In addition, the cons…

We give an explicit graded cellular basis of the $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-web algebra $K_S$. In order to do this, we identify Kuperberg's basis for the $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-web space $W_S$ with a version of Leclerc-Toffin's intermediate crystal basis and we identify Brundan, Kleshchev and Wang's degree of tableaux with the weigh…

In this paper we use Kuperberg's $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-webs and Khovanov's $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-foams to define a new algebra $K^S$, which we call the $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-web algebra. It is the $\mathfrak{sl}_3$ analogue of Khovanov's arc algebra. We prove that $K^S$ is a graded symmetric Frobenius algebra. Furthermore, we cate…

This paper contains a categorification of the sl(k) link invariant using parabolic singular blocks of category O. Our approach is intended to be as elementary as possible, providing combinatorial proofs of the main results of Sussan. We first construct an exact functor valued invariant of webs or 'special' trivalent gr…

Paper connects algebraic K-theory to foam geometry.

Real foams can be viewed as a geometrically well-organized dispersion of more or less spherical bubbles in a liquid. When the foam is so drained that the liquid content significantly decreases, the bubbles become polyhedral-like and the foam can be viewed now as a network of thin liquid films intersecting each other at…

We show how to use Bar-Natan's `divide and conquer' approach to computations to efficiently compute the universal sl(2) dotted foam cohomology groups, even for big knots and links. We also describe a purely topological version of the sl(2) foam theory, in the sense that no dots are needed on foams.

We use foams to give a topological construction of a rational link homology categorifying the slN link invariant, for N>3. To evaluate closed foams we use the Kapustin-Li formula adapted to foams by Khovanov and Rozansky. We show that for any link our homology is isomorphic to Khovanov and Rozansky's.

New homology for links in annulus discovered.

Foam cobordism groups linked to interval exchange automorphisms.

The paper extends foam theory to more complex trivalent graphs.

Foams 2-equivalent to singular Soergel bimodules.

The dual to a tetrahedron consists of a single vertex at which four edges and six faces are incident. Along each edge, three faces converge. A 2-foam is a compact topological space such that each point has a neighborhood homeomorphic to a neighborhood of that complex. Knotted foams in 4-dimensional space are to knotted…

The paper constructs semistrict monoidal 2-categories from foam evaluations.

In this paper I define certain interesting 2-functors from the Khovanov-Lauda 2-category which categorifies quantum sl(k), for any k>1, to a 2-category of universal sl(3) foams with corners. For want of a better name I use the term "foamation" to indicate those 2-functors. I conjecture the existence of similar 2-functo…

In this thesis we define and study a categorification of the sl(N)-link polynomial using foams, for N\geq 3. For N=3 we define the universal sl(3)-link homology, using foams, which depends on three parameters and show that it is functorial, up to scalars, with respect to link cobordisms. Our theory is integral. We show…

We show that Khovanov homology (and its sl(3) variant) can be understood in the context of higher representation theory. Specifically, we show that the combinatorially defined foam constructions of these theories arise as a family of 2-representations of categorified quantum sl(m) via categorical skew Howe duality. Uti…

By 2-twist-spinning the knotted graph that represents the knotted handlebody $5_2$, we obtain a knotted foam in 4-dimensional space with a non-trivial quandle cocycle invariant.

The paper extends graph signatures to Klein graphs and foams, linking signatures to knot properties.

This paper proposes an axiomatic for Cyclic Foam Topological Field theories. That is Topological Field theories, corresponding to String theories, where particles are arbitrary graphs. World surfaces in this case are two-manifolds with one-dimensional singularities. We proved that Cyclic Foam Topological Field theories…

We study a certain class of embedded two-foams that arise from gluing discs into ribbon torus knots along nonintersecting torus meridians. We exhibit several equivalent diagrammatic formalisms for these objects and identify several of their invariants, including a unique prime decomposition.

We define two functors from Elias and Khovanov's diagrammatic Soergel category, one targeting Clark-Morrison-Walker's category of disoriented sl(2) cobordisms and the other the category of (universal) sl(3) foams.

We prove that the foam and matrix factorization universal rational sl3 link homologies are naturally isomorphic as projective functors from the category of link and link cobordisms to the category of bigraded vector spaces.

We investigate the filtered theory corresponding to the universal sl(2) foam cohomology $H_{a,h}$ for links, where a and h are complex numbers. We show that there is a spectral sequence converging to $H_{a,h}$ which is invariant under the Reidemeister moves, and whose E1 term is isomorphic to Khovanov homology. This sp…

We combinatorially describe the $2$-category of singular cobordisms, called (rank one) foams, which governs the functorial version of Khovanov homology. As an application we topologically realize the type $\mathrm{D}$ arc algebra using this singular cobordism construction.

We use 4-valent planar graphs and singular cobordisms (called foams) to construct an integral doubly-graded cohomology for tangles, and in particular for links, whose graded Euler characteristic yields the sl(n) link polynomial (for n > 3).

This paper characterizes Kashiwara-Vergne groups using algebraic structures of knotted tubes.

Derives equilibrium law for Plateau borders in wet soap films and foams.

The aim of this note is to take benefit of the foam nature of the Khovanov-Kuperberg algebras to compute the Grothendieck groups of their categories of finitely generated projective modules. The computation relies on the Hattori-Stallings trace and some geometrical properties of foams in a solid torus.

We construct a cohomology theory for oriented links using singular cobordisms and a special type of 2-dimensional Topological Quantum Field Theory (TQFT), categorifying the quantum sl(2) invariant. In particular, we give a description of the universal dot-free sl(2) foam cohomology for links via a TQFT.

Probability Density Estimation (PDE) is a multivariate discrimination technique based on sampling signal and background densities defined by event samples from data or Monte-Carlo (MC) simulations in a multi-dimensional phase space. In this paper, we present a modification of the PDE method that uses a self-adapting bi…

We give a purely combinatorial formula for evaluating closed decorated foams. Our evaluation gives an integral polynomial and is directly connected to an integral equivariant version of the $\mathfrak{sl}_N$ link homology categorifying the $\mathfrak{sl}_N$ link polynomial. We also provide connections to the equivarian…