Abelian quotients of the string link monoid (Q2444357)

The set of \(C_k\)-equivalence classes of \(n\)-string links is a group, introduced by K. Habiro. The authors show whether or not this is abelian for any \(n\) and \(k\), except for \(n=2\) and \(k=7\). When \(n=2\) and \(k=7\), they show that this group is abelian if it has no 2-torsion. They also apply these results to the Goussarov-Habiro conjecture as follows. They show that for any integer \(k \leq 6\), two 2-string links cannot be distinguished by any finite type invariant of order less than \(k\) if and only if they are \(C_k\)-equivalent. Moreover they determine when the set of \(C_k\)-concordance classes of \(n\)-string links is abelian. Here the \(C_k\)-concordance is an equivalence relation generated by \(C_k\)-equivalence and concordance. They also apply it to \(C_k\)-concordance, similar to \(C_k\)-equivalence.