Quantum invariants of knotoids (Q2244078)

Knotoids are equivalence classes of open-ended diagrams that extend knot theory to the case of open curves. In this paper the authors introduce several quantum invariants for knotoids in \(\mathbb{R}^2\). The main tools for this work are the notion of Morse knotoid diagrams and their critical points (with respect to a height function defined on the diagram). Isotopy moves between Morse knotoid diagrams are discussed for both the classical and virtual case. Next, the Kauffman bracket polynomial is extended to the case of Morse knotoid diagrams and the authors show that Morse knotoids can be seen as morphisms of a category. It is also shown that given an appropriate functor these morphisms are in fact invariants for Morse knotoid diagrams. Finally, using oriented quantum state sum models, the Alexander polynomial for planar knotoids is defined. The paper concludes with a quantum state sum model that yields infinite specializations of the Homfly polymonial. Both constructions are based on a general method that yields oriented quantum invariants for planar knotoids.