Two-fold quasi-alternating links, Khovanov homology and instanton homology (Q1708585): Difference between revisions

The first author in [J. Topol. 8, No. 3, 744--810 (2015; Zbl 1345.57037)], constructed a spectral sequence with \(E_2\)-page isomorphic to the odd Khovanov homology of the link \(L\) and converging to the framed instanton homology of the double branched cover of \(L\). The purpose of this paper is to extend this result to the case of non-trivial \(SO(3)\)-bundles. To this end the authors associate to any link \(L\) additional combinatorial data called \textit{two-fold marking data}. To any link \(L\) equipped with two-fold marking data \(\omega\) it is possible to assign a certain singly-graded and twisted version of Khovanov homology, denoted by \(Kh(L,\omega)\). This homology theory is related to the twisted version of Khovanov homology studied by \textit{L. P. Roberts} [Geom. Topol. 19, No. 1, 1--59 (2015; Zbl 1366.57006)] and \textit{T. C. Jaeger} [J. Knot Theory Ramifications 22, No. 6, Article ID 1350022, 16 p. (2013; Zbl 1271.57018)]. When the two-fold marking data is trivial, \(Kh(L,\omega)\) is isomorphic to reduced Khovanov homology \(\overline{Kh}(L,\mathbb{F}_2)\). Among links equipped with the two-fold marking data the authors distinguish the class of \textit{two-fold quasi-alternating links} (denoted TQA) which generalizes quasi-alternating links. The first main theorem of this paper states that \(Kh(L,\omega)\) is concentrated in degree zero with rank equal to \(\det(L)\) if \((L,\omega)\) is TQA. For any link \(L\) the two-fold marking data \(\omega\) determines an isomorphism class of a principal \(SO(3)\)-bundle over the double branched cover \(\Sigma(L)\). The second main theorem gives a complete description of the framed instanton homology \(I^{\#}(\Sigma(L),\omega)\) in terms of the determinant of \(L\) and the number of components of \(L\) when \((L,\omega)\) is TQA. For non-TQA links the authors conjecture that there exists a spectral sequence with \(E_2 = Kh(L,\omega)\) converging to the framed instanton homology \(I^{\#}(\Sigma(L),\omega)\). As a step towards the proof of this conjecture, the authors define, for any diagram \((D,\widehat{\omega})\) of a link with two-fold marking data \((L,\omega)\), a \textit{dotted diagram homology} \(Hd(D,\widehat{\omega})\). Dotted diagram homology is not a link invariant, however it arises as the \(E_2\)-page in a spectral sequence converging to \(Kh(L,\omega)\). The authors construct a spectral sequence with \(E_2\)-page isomorphic to dotted diagram homology and converging to \(I^{\#}(\Sigma(L),\omega)\). The last two sections of the paper give a characterization of TQA Montesinos links and present results of computer calculations of the twisted Khovanov homology \(Kh(L,\omega)\) for links up to ten crossings.