On the Homflypt skein module of \(S^1\times S^2\) (Q5947234)

Skein modules, Vassiliev modules etc. are dual algebraic objects (on the geometric level of knots and links) to corresponding types of knot and link invariants. In the present article, links in the non-simply-connected 3-manifold \(S^1\times S^2\) are considered and the skein module that corresponds to the HOMFLYPT invariant is investigated. This is the module (denoted by \(S(S^1\times S^2)\)) generated (over a subring \(k\) of the field of rational functions in \(x,\,v,\,s\) which contains elements \(x^{\pm},\,v^{\pm},\,s^{\pm}\)) by isotopy classes of framed oriented links in \(S^1\times S^2\) with the following relations: (1) \(x^{-1}L_+-xL_- =(s-s^{-1})L_0;\) (2) \(L\) with a positive local twist \(=(xv^{-1})L;\) (3) \(L\sqcup O=(\frac{v-v^{-1}}{s-s^{-1}})L\) where \({O}\) is the standard unknot. For the case of the solid torus \(S^1\times D^2\subset S^1\times S^2,\) the descriptions of different bases for \(S(S^1\times D^2)\) obtained by several authors (V. Turaev, J. Hoste and M. Kidwell, A. K. Aiston and H. R. Morton and others) are given and some refined results are presented. Then considering the manifold \(S^1\times S^2\) obtained by adding a 2-handle and 3-handle to the solid torus, additional relations between elements of the basis are described. For parametrizations of the relations, the relative skein modules \(S(S^1\times D^2,\, A,\, B)\) with two points \( A,\, B\) in the boundary are studied, similar to how it was done by G. Masbaum for the calculation of the relative Kauffman bracket skein module of the solid torus that recovered and refined J. Hoste and J. Przytycki's calculation of the Kauffman bracket skein module of \(S^1\times S^2\). The description of basis and relations leads to the following main results. Denote by \(\varphi\) the class of the empty link. Theorem 1. The submodule \(\langle \varphi\rangle\) in the skein module \(S(S^1\times S^2)\) generated by the empty link \(\varphi\) is a free submodule in \(S(S^1\times S^2).\) Theorem 2. If \(s^{2n}-1\) is invertible in the ring \(k\) for \(n>0,\) \(n\in \mathbb Z,\) and \(m\in \mathbb Z\), then \(S(S^1\times S^2)/ \langle \varphi\rangle\) is a \(k\)-torsion module. Assuming all elements of the form \(s^{2m}-v^2\) are invertible in \(k,\) then \(S(S^1\times S^2)\)= \(k\)-torsion module \(\oplus\langle \varphi\rangle\). Assuming in addition that all elements of the form \(s^{2m}-v^4\) are invertible in \(k,\) then \(S(S^1\times S^2)=\langle \varphi\rangle.\) The skein module \(S(S^1\times S^2)\) is \(\mathbb Z\)-graded because \(H_1(S^1\times S^2, \mathbb Z)=\mathbb Z\) and in the general case \(S(M^3)=\bigoplus_{z\in } S_z(M^3),\) where \(S_z(M)\) is the submodule generated by isotopy classes of framed oriented links in \(M\) representing the homology class \(z.\) A question which remains open is whether the \(k\)-torsion submodule is nontrivial or not.