Classical link invariants and the Burau representation (Q804012)

The author demonstrates an intriguing connection between the Burau representation of an element of the braid group and the Alexander module of the link obtained by closing the braid. In the same spirit, a connection is made between a Hermitian form on the torsion submodule of the Alexander module and the Blanchfield pairing. Let \(B_ n\) denote the n-string braid group. Let R denote the integral group ring of the integers, \({\mathbb{Z}}[t,t^{-1}]\). Let \(V_ n\) denote the free module of rank n over R. Let the braids act on \(V_ n\) via the unreduced Burau representation. For \(\gamma \in B_ n\), let \({\hat \gamma}\) denote the closed braid in \(S^ 3\) corresponding to \(\gamma\). The author proves two theorems which demonstrate the connections referred to above; part of the first theorem is the following: \(V_ n/(1- \gamma)V_ n\) depends only on \({\hat \gamma}\), and is isomorphic to the Alexander module of the disjoint union of \({\hat \gamma}\) with the unknot. Using the theorems, Alexander modules of the torus links are computed.