Symbolic computation with finite biquandles (Q2469236)

A biquandle is a nonassociative algebraic structure whose axioms follow from the desire to assign biquandle elements to the semi-arcs of virtual link diagrams in a way that makes the number of such assignments (colorings) an invariant under generalized Reidemeister moves. The number of colorings is the simplest invariant that can be obtained from a given biquandle. The more sophisticated invariants are obtained from certain functions that assign a weight to each crossing in the colored link diagram. These functions are elements of the second Yang-Baxter cohomology of the biquandle used in the coloring as defined in \textit{J. S. Carter, M. Elhamdadi} and \textit{M. Saito} [Fundam. Math. 184, 31--54 (2004; Zbl 1067.57006)]. In this paper, the authors describe a method of computing a basis for the second Yang-Baxter cohomology of a finite biquandle with coefficients in \(\mathbb Q\) and \(\mathbb Z_p\) from a matrix presentation of the finite biquandle. They also give a method for computing the Yang-Baxter cocycle invariants of an oriented knot or link represented as a signed Gauss code (a URL for Maple implementations of these algorithms is provided).