A Factorization of the Conway Polynomial

A string link S can be closed in a canonical way to produce an ordinary closed link L. We also consider a twisted closing which produces a knot K. We give a formula for the Conway polynomial of L as a product of the Conway polynomial of K times a power series whose coefficients are given as explicit functions of the Milnor invariants of S. One consequence is a formula for the first non-vanishing coefficient of the Conway polynomial of L in terms of the Milnor invariants of L. There is an analogous factorization of the multivariable Alexander polynomial.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX, 9 figures using BoxedEP

On Finite Type 3-manifold invariants IV: Comparison of Definitions

This paper compares the definitions of finite-type invariants due to Ohtsuki and to Garoufalidis, showing that, residually, type 3m of the former equals type m of the latter. It also shows that type 2m Ohtsuki invariants define knot invariants of type 3m (first proved by Habegger).Comment: 13 pages, Postscrip

On Finite Type 3-Manifold Invariants II

This paper continues the study of finite-type invariants of homology spheres studied by Ohtsuki and Garoufalidis. We apply the surgery classification of links to give a diagrammatic description, using ideas of Ohtsuki. This uses a computation of the surgery equivalence classes of pure braids. We show that the order of any invariant, in Ohtsukis sense, is a multiple of 3. We also study the relation between the order of an invariant and that of the knot invariant it defines.Comment: 28 pages, 15 figures, Uuencoded PostScript Fil