Embedding calculus knot invariants are of finite type

We show that the map on components from the space of classical long knots to the n-th stage of its Goodwillie-Weiss embedding calculus tower is a map of monoids whose target is an abelian group and which is invariant under clasper surgery. We deduce that this map on components is a finite type-(n-1) knot invariant. We also compute the second page in total degree zero for the spectral sequence converging to the components of this tower as Z-modules of primitive chord diagrams, providing evidence for the conjecture that the tower is a universal finite-type invariant over the integers. Key to these results is the development of a group structure on the tower compatible with connect-sum of knots, which in contrast with the corresponding results for the (weaker) homology tower requires novel techniques involving operad actions, evaluation maps, and cosimplicial and subcubical diagrams.Comment: Revised maps to the infinitesimal mapping space model in Sections 3 and 4 and analysis of cubical diagrams in Section 5. Minor expository and organizational changes throughout. Now 28 pages, 4 figure

Quadratic Tangles in Planar Algebras

In planar algebras, we show how to project certain simple "quadratic" tangles onto the linear space spanned by "linear" and "constant" tangles. We obtain some corollaries about the principal graphs and annular structure of subfactors

Igusa-type functions associated to finite formed spaces and their functional equations

We study symmetries enjoyed by the polynomials enumerating non-degenerate flags in finite vector spaces, equipped with a non-degenerate alternating bilinear, hermitian or quadratic form. To this end we introduce Igusa-type rational functions encoding these polynomials and prove that they satisfy certain functional equations. Some of our results are achieved by expressing the polynomials in question in terms of what we call parabolic length functions on Coxeter groups of type $A$. While our treatment of the orthogonal case exploits combinatorial properties of integer compositions and their refinements, we formulate a precise conjecture how in this situation, too, the polynomials may be described in terms of parabolic length functions.Comment: Slightly revised version, to appear in Trans. Amer. Math. Soc

Poncelet's Theorem, Paraorthogonal Polynomials and the Numerical Range of Compressed Multiplication Operators

There has been considerable recent literature connecting Poncelet's theorem to ellipses, Blaschke products and numerical ranges, summarized, for example, in the recent book [11]. We show how those results can be understood using ideas from the theory of orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle (OPUC) and, in turn, can provide new insights to the theory of OPUC.Comment: 46 pages, 4 figures; minor revisions from v1; accepted for publication in Adv. Mat