From Solitons to Knots and Links

Abstract

Development in the theory of solvable (integrable) models is reviewed. It covers from basic knowledge on completely integrable systems to recent work by the authors. First, soliton theory is briefly summarized. Through the inverse scattering method and its quantum extension, a central concept, commuting transfer matrices, and a key relation, the Yang-Baxter relation, are introduced. Second, it is shown that there exists at least ∞×∞ number of solvable models in two-dimensional statistical mechanics. Third, quantum spin chains corresponding to solvable statistical mechanical models are discussed. In particular, finite temperature extension of Baxter's formula is given. Fourth, a new approach is presented to the classification problem of knots and links. It is shown that link polynomial, topological invariant for knots and links, can be associated with any solvable model in statistical mechanics. In the presentation, universality of the soliton picture in field theory, spin systems and statistical mechanics is observed