Narrow Results

We introduce augmented biracks and define a (co)homology theory associated to augmented biracks. The new homology theory extends the previously studied Yang–Baxter homology with a combinatorial formulation for the boundary map and specializes to N-reduced rack homology when the birack is a rack. We introduce augmented birack 2-cocycle invariants of classical and virtual knots and links and provide examples.

We bring cocycle enhancement theory to the case of psyquandles. Analogously to our previous work on virtual biquandle cocycle enhancements, we define enhancements of the psyquandle counting invariant via pairs of a biquandle 2-cocycle and a new function satisfying some conditions. As an application we define new single-variable and two-variable polynomial invariants of oriented pseudoknots and singular knots and links. We provide examples to show that the new invariants are proper enhancements of the counting invariant and are not determined by the Jablan polynomial.

A group-theoretical method, via Wada's representations, is presented to distinguish Kishino's virtual knot from the unknot. Biquandles are constructed for any group using Wada's braid group representations. Cocycle invariants for these biquandles are studied. These invariants are applied to show the non-existence of Alexander numberings and checkerboard colorings.

Quandle colorings and cocycle invariants are studied for composite knots, and applied to chirality and abelian extensions. The square and granny knots, for example, can be distinguished by quandle colorings, so that a trefoil and its mirror can be distinguished by quandle coloring of composite knots. We investigate this and related phenomena. Quandle cocycle invariants are studied in relation to quandle coloring of the connected sum, and formulas are given for computing the cocycle invariant from the number of colorings of composite knots. Relations to corresponding abelian extensions of quandles are studied, and extensions are examined for the table of small connected quandles, called Rig quandles. Computer calculations are presented, and summaries of outputs are discussed.

In this paper, we introduce the (co)homology group of a multiple conjugation biquandle. It is the (co)homology group of the prismatic chain complex, which is related to the homology of foams introduced by J. S. Carter, modulo a certain subchain complex. We construct invariants for $S^1$-oriented handlebody-links using $2$-cocycles. When a multiple conjugation biquandle $X\times {\mathbb{Z}}_{type{X}_Y}$ is obtained from a biquandle $X$ using $n$-parallel operations, we provide a $2$-cocycle (or $3$-cocycle) of the multiple conjugation biquandle $X\times {\mathbb{Z}}_{type{X}_Y}$ from a $2$-cocycle (or $3$-cocycle) of the biquandle $X$ equipped with an $X$-set $Y$.

Given a biquandle $(X,S)$, a function $\tau$ with certain compatibility and a pair of non commutative cocyles$f,h:X\times X\to G$ with values in a non necessarily commutative group $G$, we give an invariant for singular knots/links. Given $(X,S,\tau )$, we also define a universal group $U_{nc}^{fh}(X)$ and universal functions governing all 2-cocycles in $X$, and exhibit examples of computations. When the target group is abelian, a notion of abelian cocycle pair is given and the “state sum” is defined for singular knots/links. Computations generalizing linking number for singular knots are given. As for virtual knots, a “self-linking number” may be defined for singular knots.

A heap is a set with a certain ternary operation that is self-distributive and exemplified by a group with the operation $(x,y,z)\mapsto x{y}^{-1}z$. We introduce and investigate framed link invariants using heaps. In analogy with the knot group, we define the fundamental heap of framed links using group presentations. The fundamental heap is determined for some classes of links such as certain families of torus and pretzel links. We show that for these families of links there exist epimorphisms from fundamental heaps to Vinberg and Coxeter groups, implying that corresponding groups are infinite. A relation to the Wirtinger presentation is also described.

The cocycle invariant is defined using ternary self-distributive (TSD) cohomology, by means of a state sum that uses ternary heap $2$-cocycles as weights. This invariant corresponds to a rack cocycle invariant for the rack constructed by doubling of a heap, while colorings can be regarded as heap morphisms from the fundamental heap.

For the construction of the invariant, first computational methods for the heap cohomology are developed. It is shown that the cohomology splits into two types, called degenerate and nondegenerate, and that the degenerate part is one-dimensional. Subcomplexes are constructed based on group cosets, that allow computations of the nondegenerate part. Computations of the cocycle invariants are presented using the cocycles constructed, and conversely, it is proved that the invariant values can be used to derive algebraic properties of the cohomology.