Link invariants from finite biracks

A birack is an algebraic structure with axioms encoding the blackboard-framed Reidemeister moves, incorporating quandles, racks, strong biquandles and semiquandles as special cases. In this paper we extend the counting invariant for finite racks to the case of finite biracks. We introduce a family of biracks generalizing Alexander quandles, $(t,s)$-racks, Alexander biquandles and Silver-Williams switches, known as $(\tau,\sigma,\rho)$-biracks. We consider enhancements of the counting invariant using writhe vectors, image subbiracks, and birack polynomials.Comment: 14 page

Virtual Crossing Realization

We study virtual isotopy sequences with classical initial and final diagrams, asking when such a sequence can be changed into a classical isotopy sequence by replacing virtual crossings with classical crossings. An example of a sequence for which no such virtual crossing realization exists is given. A conjecture on conditions for realizability of virtual isotopy sequences is proposed, and a sufficient condition for realizability is found. The conjecture is reformulated in terms of 2-knots and knots in thickened surfaces.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. To appear in J. Knot Theory Ramifications. Version 6 includes revisions suggested by the reviewe

Classification of Finite Alexander Quandles

Two finite Alexander quandles with the same number of elements are isomorphic iff their Z[t,t^-1]-submodules Im(1-t) are isomorphic as modules. This yields specific conditions on when Alexander quandles of the form Z_n[t,t^-1]/(t-a) where gcd(n,a)=1 (called linear quandles) are isomorphic, as well as specific conditions on when two linear quandles are dual and which linear quandles are connected. We apply this result to obtain a procedure for classifying Alexander quandles of any finite order and as an application we list the numbers of distinct and connected Alexander quandles with up to fifteen elements.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX. Typos corrected, proof of Theorem 2.1 fixed. To appear in Topology Proceeding

Finite Type Enhancements

We enhance the biquandle counting invariant using elements of truncated biquandle-labeled Polyak algebras. These finite type enhancements reduce to the finite type enhancements defined by Goussarov, Polyak and Viro for the trivial biquandle of one element and determine (but are not determined by) the biquandle counting invariant for general biquandles. Unlike the unlabeled case, biquandle labeled finite type invariants of degree 1 are nontrivial and are related to biquandle cocycle invariants.Comment: 12 page

Signed ordered knotlike quandle presentations

We define enhanced presentations of quandles via generators and relations with additional information comprising signed operations and an order structure on the set of generators. Such a presentation determines a virtual link diagram up to virtual moves. We list formal Reidemeister moves in which Tietze moves on the presented quandle are accompanied by corresponding changes to the order structure. Omitting the order structure corresponds to replacing virtual isotopy by welded isotopy.Comment: Published by Algebraic and Geometric Topology at http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/agt/AGTVol5/agt-5-20.abs.htm

A polynomial invariant of finite quandles

We define a two-variable polynomial invariant of finite quandles. In many cases this invariant completely determines the algebraic structure of the quandle up to isomorphism. We use this polynomial to define a family of link invariants which generalize the quandle counting invariant.Comment: 9 pages. Typos correcte

Link invariants from finite racks

We define ambient isotopy invariants of oriented knots and links using the counting invariants of framed links defined by finite racks. These invariants reduce to the usual quandle counting invariant when the rack in question is a quandle. We are able to further enhance these counting invariants with 2-cocycles from the coloring rack's second rack cohomology satisfying a new degeneracy condition which reduces to the usual case for quandles.Comment: 13 pages; typos correcte

An isomorphism theorem for Alexander biquandles

We show that two Alexander biquandles M and M' are isomorphic iff there is an isomorphism of Z[s,1/s,t,1/t]-modules h:(1-st)M --> (1-st)M' and a bijection g:O_s(A) --> O_s(A') between the s-orbits of sets of coset representatives of M/(1-st)M and M'/(1-st)M' respectively satisfying certain compatibility conditions.Comment: 10 pages. Version 2 includes changes suggested by referee, including a title change. To appear in Intl. J. Mat

Twisted Virtual Bikeigebras and Twisted Virtual Handlebody-Knots

We generalize unoriented handlebody-links to the twisted virtual case, obtaining Reidemeister moves for handlebody-links in ambient spaces of the form $\Sigma\times [0,1]$ for $\Sigma$ a compact closed 2-manifold up to stable equivalence. We introduce a related algebraic structure known as twisted virtual bikeigebras whose axioms are motivated by the twisted virtual handlebody-link Reidemeister moves. We use twisted virtual bikeigebras to define $X$-colorability for twisted virtual handlebody-links and define an integer-valued invariant $\Phi_{X}^{\mathbb{Z}}$ of twisted virtual handlebody-links. We provide example computations of the new invariants and use them to distinguish some twisted virtual handlebody-links.Comment: 9 page

Virtual Yang-Baxter cocycle invariants

We extend the Yang-Baxter cocycle invariants for virtual knots by augmenting Yang-Baxter 2-cocycles with cocycles from a cohomology theory associated to a virtual biquandle structure. These invariants coincide with the classical Yang-Baxter cocycle invariants for classical knots but provide extra information about virtual knots and links. In particular, they provide a method for detecting non-classicality of virtual knots and links.Comment: 17 pages, many pictures. To appear in Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. Version 2 includes minor typo correction