Oriented quantum algebras and invariants of knots and links (Q5956263)

The authors develop a general theory of oriented quantum algebras, twist oriented quantum algebras and their resulting invariants. This paper is a continuation of their previous work on oriented quantum algebras as introduced from a topological point of view. Oriented quantum algebras give rise to regular isotopy invariants of oriented 1-1 tangles. Twist oriented quantum algebras are oriented quantum algebras with additional structure and give rise to regular isotopy invariants of oriented knots and links. Associated invariants of twist quantum algebras include nearly all of the quantum link invariants known at present. The authors introduce two types of oriented quantum algebras, standard and balanced. For a given oriented quantum algebra \(A\) they define a map \(\text{Inv}_A\colon\text{Tang}\to A\), where Tang is the set of all oriented 1-1 tangle diagrams such that \(\text{Inv}_A(T)=\text{Inv}_A(T')\) whenever \(T\) and \(T'\) are regularly isotopic. Moreover they show that \(\text{Inv}_A(T)=\text{Inv}_{A_S}(T)\) for all \(T\in\text{Tang}\), where \(A_S\) is the standard oriented quantum algebra associated to \(A\). As a result 1-1 tangle invariants are computed by standard quantum algebras. They also construct a function \(\text{Inv}_{A,tr}\colon\text{Link}\to k\), where Link is the set of link diagrams with respect to a fixed vertical in the plane, \((A,\rho,t_d,t_u,G)\) is a twist oriented quantum algebra over a field \(k\) and \(tr\in A^*\) is a tracelike element satisfying \(tr\circ t_d=tr\circ t_u=tr\). This function has the property that \(\text{Inv}_{A,tr}(L)=\text{Inv}_{A,tr}(L')\), where \(L\) and \(L'\) are regularly isotopic. Thus \(\text{Inv}_{A,tr}\) determines a regular isotopy invariant of oriented links. Moreover, \(\text{Inv}_{A_S,tr}(L)=\text{Inv}_{A,tr}(L)\) for all \(L\in\text{Link}\). They also establish relationships between invariants of the type \(\text{Inv}_A(T)\), \(\text{Inv}_{A,tr}(L)\) and morphisms of (twist) oriented quantum algebras. Finally, the authors study the balanced oriented quantum algebra structure on \(A=M_n(k)\) and determine the resulting link invariants. This well written paper contains nice results.