Knot modules and the elementary divisor theorem (Q1083075)

A knot module is a finitely generated module M over the ring \(\Lambda ={\mathbb{Z}}[t,t^{-1}]\) on which multiplication by (1-t) induces an automorphism. Since \(\Lambda\) is not a PID, M need not be a sum of cyclic modules, and this fact has been previously used by the author to give examples of high-dimensional knots which factorize into irreducibles in more than one way. In this paper he gives a necessary and sufficient condition for M to be a cyclic module, in terms of the first elementary ideal of M, the Steinitz-Fox-Smythe invariants of quotients of M by irreducible factors of the Alexander polynomial, and certain unit class invariants. All these invariants can be computed from a presentation matrix for M. The author goes on to show that if M is a direct sum of cyclic modules, then it satisfies the elementary divisor theorem if and only if all its elementary ideals are principal. Finally, several examples are given to illustrate the independence of the conditions for M to be a cyclic module, and to show that the analogous conditions which are necessary for M to be a direct sum of cyclic modules are not sufficient.