Embedding calculus and grope cobordism of knots (Q6592196)

This article deals with the space of long knots \(\mathcal{K}(I^3) = \operatorname{Emb}_\partial(I, I^3)\), and more precisely the monoid \(\mathbb{K}(I^3) = \pi_0(\mathcal{K}(I^3))\) of isotopy classes of such long knots. Two important approaches exist to define invariants of such long knots:\N\begin{itemize}\N\item On the one hand, a ``geometrical'' approach using finite type knot invariants, which studies the geometry of the discriminant \(\operatorname{Map}_\partial(I,I^3) \setminus \operatorname{Emb}_\partial(I,I^3)\) and produces a sequence of quotients \(\mathbb{K}(I^3) / {\sim}_n\) for \(n \geq 1\).\N\item On the other hand, a ``homotopical'' approach using Goodwillie-Weiss embedding calculus, which considers how pairwise disjoint intervals of \(I\) embed into \(I^3\), and which produces a Taylor tower of spaces \((\cdots \to P_{n+1}(I^3) \to P_n(I^3) \to \cdots)\) and evaluation maps \(\operatorname{ev}_n : \mathcal{K}(I^3) \to P_n(I^3)\).\N\end{itemize}\N\NIt has long been conjectured [\textit{R. Budney} et al., Adv. Math. 191, No. 1, 78--113 (2005; Zbl 1078.57011)] that \(\pi_0\operatorname{ev}_n\) is a \textit{universal} additive invariant of type \(\leq n-1\) over \(\mathbb{Z}\), or equivalently that \(\operatorname{ev}_n\) induces an isomorphism of groups \(\mathbb{K}(I^3) / {\sim}_n \to \pi_0(P_n(I^3))\). One of the main results of this article is that the morphism \(\mathbb{K}(I^3) \to \pi_0(P_n(I^3))\) is \textit{surjective}, covering essentially half of the conjecture. Moreover, by studying the collapse of the Taylor tower with appropriate coefficients and using results of \textit{P. Boavida De Brito} and \textit{G. Horel} [Compos. Math. 157, No. 5, 997--1021 (2021; Zbl 1467.57001)], the author proves completely the conjecture over \(\mathbb{Q}\), over the \(p\)-adics \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) for \(n \leq p+2\), and over \(\mathbb{Z}\) for \(n \leq 7\).\N\NOne of the key technical tools used is the notion of (capped) grope cobordism [\textit{J. Conant} and \textit{P. Teichner}, Topology 43, No. 1, 119--156 (2004; Zbl 1041.57003)], which are cobordisms of knots modelled on trees. The use of gropes allows the author to connect this newer reformulation of finite type invariant theory to (a priori unrelated) trees that appear in embedding calculus. Moreover, it shows the potential of the author's methods by enabling some explicit computations of the invariant \(\operatorname{ev}_n\).