Studying the multivariable Alexander polynomial by means of Seifert surfaces (Q2493399)

In classical knot theory a Seifert matrix \(V\) determines the one-variable Alexander polynomial \(\Delta (t)=\det (V^{tr}-tV)\) [\textit{H. Seifert}, Math. Ann. 110, 571--592 (1935; Zbl 0010.13303)]. In the paper under review the author observes that the ``multilinks'' introduced by \textit{D. Eisenbud} and \textit{W. Neumann} [Three-dimensional link theory and invariants of plane curve singularities. Annals of Mathematics Studies, No. 110. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press (1985; Zbl 0628.57002)] allow one to also study the multivariable form of the Alexander polynomial using Seifert matrices. As examples he gives proofs of two important formulas due to \textit{G. Torres} [Ann. Math. (2) 57, 57--89 (1953; Zbl 0050.17903)].