Braid commutators and delta finite-type invariants (Q2725565)

The author considers delta finite-type invariants of knots and links (\(\Delta\)FT invariants) and proves that some properties of \(\Delta\)FT invariants closely resemble properties of finite-type invariants in the usual sense (FT invariants). That is, in the same way that FT invariants are based on sets of crossing changes in knot or link diagrams, \(\Delta\)FT invariants are based on sets of delta moves in knot or link diagrams; in the same way that FT invariants are closely related to \(\gamma_n(P)\), the lower central series of the pure braid group \(P\), \(\Delta\)FT invariants are closely related to \(\gamma_n(P')\), the lower central series of the commutator subgroup of \(P\), where \(P\) is the pure braid group. Moreover, the author shows that two knots have matching \(\Delta\)FT invariants of order \(<n\) if and only if they are equivalent modulo \(\gamma_n(P')\), just as two knots have matching FT invariants of order \(<n\) if and only if they are equivalent modulo \(\gamma_n(P)\), and it follows that an FT invariant of order \(<2n\) is a \(\Delta\)FT invariant of order \(<n\). Finally, the author points out that there is a difference between \(\gamma_n(P)\) and \(\gamma_n(P')\) which may make the \(\Delta\)FT invariants more than just a relabeling of the FT invariants.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0959.00034].