Twisted cohomology pairings of knots. I: Diagrammatic computation (Q2406827)

Let \(Y_L\) denote the complement of a link \(L\) in the 3-sphere. Under a given group homomorphism \(f: \pi_1(Y_L) \rightarrow G\) defined on the fundamental group of \(Y_L\), one may consider any right \(G\)-module \(M\) to be local coefficients for the homology of \(Y_L\). Let \(M\) and \(M^\prime\) be two \(G\)-modules so considered. Using colorings of the oriented link diagram by certain quandles, the author computes the bilinear forms \( H^1(Y_L,\partial Y_L; M) \otimes H^1(Y_L,\partial Y_L; M^\prime) \rightarrow A\) which can be expressed as compositions of the cup product, \[ \smile : H^1(Y_L,\partial Y_L; M) \otimes H^1(Y_L,\partial Y_L; M^\prime) \rightarrow H^2(Y_L,\partial Y_L; M\otimes M^\prime), \] with the evaluation map on a basis element \(\mu_\ell \in H_2(Y_L,\partial Y_L; {\mathbb Z}) \), \[ \langle - , \mu_\ell\rangle: H^2(Y_L,\partial Y_L; M\otimes M^\prime) \rightarrow M\otimes M^\prime, \] followed by a bilinear map \[ \psi : M \times M^\prime \rightarrow A \] over the integers into some ring \(A\). As an application the author constructs bilinear forms on the twisted Alexander modules of links. Example computations are carried out for the trefoil knot, the figure eight knot and the \((m,m)\)-torus link.