Multi-switches and virtual knot invariants (Q2661699)

The authors introduce the notion of (virtual) multi-switch as a generalisation of (virtual) switch in their work [\textit{V. Bardakov} and \textit{T. Nasybullov}, ``Multi-switches and representations of braid groups'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1907.09230}]. Informally, switches are maps corresponding to set-theoretic solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation. The (virtual) multi-switches are then used by the authors to give a general approach for the construction of representations of (virtual) braid groups by automorphisms of certain algebraic systems. The highlights of the paper are as follows. The authors give a general technique of how (virtual) multi-switches can be used to construct (virtual) knot invariants. More precisely, for a given virtual multi-switch \((S,V)\) on an algebraic object \(X\) in some category, and a given virtual link \(L\), an algebraic object \(X_{S,V}(L)\) from the same category is constructed by the authors. It is proved that \(X_{S,V}(L)\) is a virtual knot invariant. Interestingly, it is shown that the well-known invariants like (Kauffman's virtual) knot groups, (virtual) quandles, (generalised) Alexander polynomial can be recovered from this construction. Using a method of constructing representations of virtual braid groups through multi-switches from their previous work, the authors develop a technique to calculate \(X_{S,V}(L)\) from the representation constructed previously. In the process, the authors construct a new quandle invariant for virtual links, which generalises the quandles defined by [\textit{L. H. Kauffman}, Eur. J. Comb. 20, No. 7, 663--690 (1999; Zbl 0938.57006)] and [\textit{V. O. Manturov}, Acta Appl. Math. 72, No. 3, 295--309 (2002; Zbl 1003.57005)]. The authors conclude by remarking that the group associated to the new quandle invariant can be used as a definition of a virtual link group.