Singular Knots Research Articles

Psyquandle coloring quivers

We enhance the psyquandle counting invariant for singular knots and pseudoknots using quivers analogously to quandle coloring quivers. This enables us to extend the in-degree polynomial invariants from quandle coloring quiver theory to the case of singular knots and pseudoknots. As a side effect, we obtain biquandle coloring quivers and in-degree polynomial invariants for classical and virtual knots and links.

Psybrackets, pseudoknots and singular knots

We introduce algebraic structures known as psybrackets and use them to define invariants of pseudoknots and singular knots and links. Psybrackets are Niebrzydowski tribrackets with additional structure inspired by the Reidemeister moves for pseudoknots and singular knots. Examples and computations are provided.

Slow-fast torus knots

The aim of this paper is to study global dynamics of $C^\infty$-smooth slow-fast systems on the $2$-torus of class $C^\infty$ using geometric singular perturbation theory and the notion of slow divergence integral. Given any $m\in\mathbb{N}$ and two relatively prime integers $k$ and $l$, we show that there exists a slow-fast system $Y_{\epsilon}$ on the $2$-torus that has a $2m$-link of type $(k,l)$, i.e. a (disjoint finite) union of $2m$ slow-fast limit cycles each of $(k,l)$-torus knot type, for all small $\epsilon>0$. The $(k,l)$-torus knot turns around the $2$-torus $k$ times meridionally and $l$ times longitudinally. There are exactly $m$ repelling limit cycles and $m$ attracting limit cycles. Our analysis: a) proves the case of normally hyperbolic singular knots, and b) provides sufficient evidence to conjecture a similar result in some cases where the singular knots have regular nilpotent contact with the fast foliation.

On the axioms of singquandles

In this paper, we deal with the notion of singquandles introduced in [I. R. U. Churchill, M. Elhamdadi, M. Hajij and S. Nelson, Singular knots and involutive quandles, J. Knot Theory Ramifications 26(14) (2017) 1750099]. This is an algebraic structure that naturally axiomatizes Reidemeister moves for singular links, similarly to what happens for ordinary links and quandles. We present a new axiomatization that shows different algebraic aspects and simplifies applications. We also reformulate and simplify the axioms for affine singquandles (in particular in the idempotent case).

Universal cocycle invariants for singular knots and links

Given a biquandle [Formula: see text], a function [Formula: see text] with certain compatibility and a pair of non commutative cocyles [Formula: see text] with values in a non necessarily commutative group [Formula: see text], we give an invariant for singular knots/links. Given [Formula: see text], we also define a universal group [Formula: see text] and universal functions governing all 2-cocycles in [Formula: see text], 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.

ON ELEMENTARY MOVES OF SINGULAR LEGENDRIAN KNOTS

We have two results. First, we give 96 generating sets oriented singular Reidemeister moves; it is an answer to a question by Bataineh, Khaled, Elhamdadi, and Hajij who give a generating set of oriented singular Reidemeister moves using their computation. Second, in the theory of plane curve and Legendrian knots introduced by V. I. Arnold, we select which moves survive as those of Legendrian singular knots and fronts diagrammatically and explicitly.

Transition Polynomial as a Weight System for Binary Delta-Matroids

To a singular knot K with n double points, one can associate a chord diagram with n chords. A chord diagram can also be understood as a 4-regular graph endowed with an oriented Euler circuit. L. Traldi introduced a polynomial invariant for such graphs, called a transition polynomial. We specialize this polynomial to a multiplicative weight system, that is, a function on chord diagrams satisfying 4-term relations and determining thus a finite type knot invariant. We prove a similar statement for the transition polynomial of general ribbon graphs and binary delta-matroids defined by R. Brijder and H. J. Hoogeboom, which defines, as a consequence, a finite type invariant of links.

Singquandles, psyquandles, and singular knots: A survey

In this short survey, we review recent results dealing with algebraic structures (quandles, psyquandles, and singquandles) related to singular knot theory. We first explore the singquandles counting invariant and then consider several recent enhancements to this invariant. These enhancements include a singquandle cocycle invariant and several polynomial invariants of singular knots obtained from the singquandle structure. We then explore psyquandles which can be thought of as generalizations of oriented singquandles, and review recent developments regarding invariants of singular knots obtained from psyquandles.

Singquandle shadows and singular knot invariants

AbstractWe introduce shadow structures for singular knot theory. Precisely, we define two invariants of singular knots and links. First, we introduce a notion of action of a singquandle on a set to define a shadow counting invariant of singular links which generalize the classical shadow colorings of knots by quandles. We then define a shadow polynomial invariant for shadow structures. Lastly, we enhance the shadow counting invariant by combining both the shadow counting invariant and the shadow polynomial invariant. Explicit examples of computations are given.

Cocycle Invariants and Oriented Singular Knots

We extend the quandle cocycle invariant to oriented singular knots and links using algebraic structures called oriented singquandles and assigning weight functions at both regular and singular crossings. This invariant coincides with the classical cocycle invariant for classical knots, but provides extra information about singular knots and links. The new invariant distinguishes the singular granny knot from the singular square knot.

Cocycle enhancements of psyquandle counting invariants

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.

Tied links and invariants for singular links

Tied links and the tied braid monoid were introduced recently by the authors and used to define new invariants for classical links. Here, we give a version purely algebraic–combinatoric of tied links. With this new version we prove that the tied braid monoid has a decomposition like a semi–direct group product. By using this decomposition we reprove the Alexander and Markov theorem for tied links; also, we introduce the tied singular knots, the tied singular braid monoid and certain families of Homflypt type invariants for tied singular links; these invariants are five–variables polynomials. Finally, we study the behavior of these invariants; in particular, we show that our invariants distinguish non isotopic singular links indistinguishable by the Paris–Rabenda invariant.

Polynomial invariants of singular knots and links

We generalize the notion of the quandle polynomial to the case of singquandles. We show that the singquandle polynomial is an invariant of finite singquandles. We also construct a singular link invariant from the singquandle polynomial and show that this new singular link invariant generalizes the singquandle counting invariant. In particular, using the new polynomial invariant, we can distinguish singular links with the same singquandle counting invariant.

Morse inequalities for orbifold Borel homology

Using a notion of Morse function on classifying spaces for finite groups, we define Morse numbers relating the critical point data of an orbifold Morse function to the homology of an associated Borel construction. In particular, we establish Morse inequalities relating our numbers to integral equivariant homology, generalizing the inequalities for manifold Morse functions due to E. Pitcher. To showcase the sharpness of these new inequalities, we will provide a complete classification of all closed, orientable, two-dimensional orbifolds for which equality may be achieved. For three-dimensional orbifolds with singular circles, we prove partial results in this direction, with an emphasis on singular knots in orbifold three-spheres.

Labeled singular knots

We introduce labeled singular knots and equivalently labeled 4-valent rigid vertex spatial graphs. Labeled singular knots are singular knots with labeled singularities. These knots are considered subject to isotopies preserving the labelings. We provide a topological invariant schema similar to that of Henrich and Kauffman in [A. Henrich and L. H. Kauffman, Tangle insertion invariants for pseudoknots, singular knots, and rigid vertex spatial graphs, Contemp. Math. 689 (2017) 1–10] by inserting rational tangles at the labeled singularities to extend usual knot invariants to our class of singular knots. We show that we can use invariants of labeled singular knots to serve usual singular knots. Labeled framed pseudoknots are also introduced and discussed.

Stuck Knots

Singular knots and links have projections involving some usual crossings and some four-valent rigid vertices. Such vertices are symmetric in the sense that no strand overpasses the other. In this research we introduce stuck knots and links to represent physical knots and links with projections involving some stuck crossings, where the physical strands get stuck together showing which strand overpasses the other at a stuck crossing. We introduce the basic elements of the theory and we give some isotopy invariants of such knots including invariants which capture the chirality (mirror imaging) of such objects. We also introduce another natural class of stuck knots, which we call relatively stuck knots, where each stuck crossing has a stuckness factor that indicates to the value of stuckness at that crossing. Amazingly, a generalized version of Jones polynomial makes an invariant of such quantized knots and links. We give applications of stuck knots and links and their invariants in modeling and understanding bonded RNA foldings, and we explore the topology of such objects with invariants involving multiplicities at the bonds. Other perspectives are also discussed.

Psyquandles, Singular Knots and Pseudoknots

We generalize the notion of biquandles to psyquandles and use these to define invariants of oriented singular links and pseudolinks. In addition to psyquandle counting invariants, we introduce Alexander psyquandles and corresponding invariants such as Alexander psyquandle polynomials and Alexander-Gr\"obner psyquandle invariants of oriented singular knots and links. We consider the relationship between Alexander psyquandle colorings of pseudolinks and p-colorings of pseudolinks. As a special case we define a generalization of the Alexander polynomial for oriented singular links and pseudolinks we call the Jablan polynomial and compute the invariant for all pseudoknots with up to five crossings and all 2-bouquet graphs with up to 6 classical crossings.

A sheaf‐theoretic SL(2,C) Floer homology for knots

Using the theory of perverse sheaves of vanishing cycles, we define a homological invariant of knots in three-manifolds, similar to the three-manifold invariant constructed by Abouzaid and the second author. We use spaces of SL ( 2 , C ) flat connections with fixed holonomy around the meridian of the knot. Thus, our invariant is a sheaf-theoretic SL ( 2 , C ) analogue of the singular knot instanton homology of Kronheimer and Mrowka. We prove that for two-bridge and torus knots, the SL ( 2 , C ) invariant is determined by the l-degree of the A ̂ -polynomial. However, this is not true in general, as can be shown by considering connected sums of knots.

Generating sets of Reidemeister moves of oriented singular links and quandles

We give a generating set of the generalized Reidemeister moves for oriented singular links. We then introduce an algebraic structure arising from the axiomatization of Reidemeister moves on oriented singular knots. We give some examples, including some non-isomorphic families of such structures over non-abelian groups. We show that the set of colorings of a singular knot by this new structure is an invariant of oriented singular knots and use it to distinguish some singular links.

Singular knots and involutive quandles

This is an Erratum for our paper “Singular Knots and Involutive Quandles” in [1]. It replaces Sec. 5 in the published version of the paper.