Virtual and arrow Temperley–Lieb algebras, Markov traces, and virtual link invariants

Abstract

Let [Formula: see text] be the algebra of Laurent polynomials in the variable [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text] be the algebra of Laurent polynomials in the variable [Formula: see text] and standard polynomials in the variables [Formula: see text] For [Formula: see text] we denote by [Formula: see text] the virtual braid group on [Formula: see text] strands. We define two towers of algebras [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in terms of diagrams. For each [Formula: see text] we determine presentations for both, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We determine sequences of homomorphisms [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], we determine Markov traces [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and we show that the invariants for virtual links obtained from these Markov traces are the [Formula: see text]-polynomial for the first trace and the arrow polynomial for the second trace. We show that, for each [Formula: see text] the standard Temperley–Lieb algebra [Formula: see text] embeds into both, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and that the restrictions to [Formula: see text] of the two Markov traces coincide.