Variations of knotted graphs. Geometric techniques of \(n\)-equivalence (Q2736035)

The author develops a geometric calculus of variations of knotted graphs in 3-manifolds. For integers \(n\geq 1\), an \(n\)-variation is an operation which transforms one knotted graph into another, and is described by a certain framed graph, called \(n\)-variation axis, which may be regarded as an embedded Feynman diagram in a \(3\)-manifold. Geometric versions of the so-called STU and IHX relations are proved. The author generalizes the notion of a variation scheme defined by him [Adv. Sov. Math. 18, 173-192 (1994; Zbl 0865.57007)]. The author proves that an \(n\)-equivalence class of string links form a group. A new notion of partly defined invariants of finite degree of knotted graphs is introduced. It is proved that two string links are \(n\)-equivalent if and only if they are not distinguished by any partly defined invariants of degree at most \(n\). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEA closely related theory of surgery operations on links and \(3\)-manifolds was independently introduced by \textit{K. Habiro} [Geom. Topol. 4, 1-83 (2000; Zbl 0941.57015)].