Skein modules of links in cylinders over surfaces (Q1854170)

Let \(M\) be a connected 3-manifold which is not assumed to be oriented. The author defines the Conway skein module \({\mathcal C}(M)\) of ordered based links in \(M\) using a version of the standard skein relation for ordered based links. Denote by \({\mathcal C}^{\#}(M)\) the quotient of the \(\mathbb{Z}[z]\)-module \({\mathcal C}(M)\) by its torsion submodule, and denote by \({\mathcal C}^{\#}_0(M)\) the quotient of the \(\mathbb{Z}\)-module \({\mathcal C}(M)/(z{\mathcal C}(M))\) by its torsion submodule. The author determines the structure of \({\mathcal C}^{\#}_0(M)\) for an arbitrary 3-manifold. It is isomorphic to a tensor product of a polynomial algebra and an exterior algebra. For \(\Sigma=\mathbb{R} P^2\) or a non orientable surface with boundary the author gives a basis for \({\mathcal C}^{\#}(\Sigma\times I)\) and he establishes an isomorphism of \(\mathbb{Z}[z]\)-modules: \({\mathcal C}^{\#}(\Sigma\times I)\cong \mathbb{Z}[z] \otimes_{\mathbb{Z}} {\mathcal C}^{\#}_0(\Sigma\times I)\). As an application a refinement of a result of Hartley and Kawauchi concerning strongly positive amphicheiral knots in the 3-sphere is given.