Kei modules and unoriented link invariants (Q740171)

A quandle is a set \(X\) with binary operation \(\triangleright\) satisfying \(x \triangleright x = x\) and \((x \triangleright y) \triangleright z = (x \triangleright z) \triangleright (y \triangleright z)\) for all \(x,y,z \in X\). If it also satisfies \((x \triangleright y) \triangleright y = x\), then \(X\) is called a kei or involutory quandle. See [\textit{T. Mituhisa}, Tohoku Math. J. 49, 145--207 (1943; Zbl 0061.02109)], [\textit{D. Joyce}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 23, 37--65 (1982; Zbl 0474.57003)] and [\textit{S. V. Matveev}, Math. USSR, Sb. 47, 73--83 (1984); translation from Mat. Sb., Nov. Ser. 119(161), No. 1, 78--88 (1982; Zbl 0523.57006)]. An associative algebra \({\mathbb Z}[X]\) was defined for every finite quandle \(X\) by \textit{N. Andruskiewitsch} and \textit{M. Graña} [Adv. Math. 178, No. 2, 177--243 (2003; Zbl 1032.16028)]. It is the quotient of the polynomial algebra \({\mathbb Z}[t_{x,y}^{\pm 1}, s_{xy}]\) with \(x,y \in X\) by the ideal generated by the relations coming from the Reidemeister moves. In [\textit{J. S. Carter} et al., Osaka J. Math. 42, No. 3, 499--541 (2005; Zbl 1089.57008)], Carter, Elhamdadi, Graña and Saito gave new invariants of oriented knots and links, using representations of \({\mathbb Z}[X]\), known as quandle modules. In [\textit{A. Haas, G. Heckel, S. Nelson, J. Yuen} and \textit{Q. Zhang}, Osaka J. Math. 49, No. 2, 471--488 (2012; Zbl 1245.57009)], a modification of \({\mathbb Z}[X]\) for finite racks was used to define invariants of framed and unframed oriented knots and links. In the paper under review, these invariants are extended to unoriented knots and links. For this purpose, the kei algebra \({\mathbb Z}_k[X]\), which is a modification of the quandle algebra, is introduced. Let \(L\) be a diagram of an unoriented knot or link and \(X\) a finite kei. When \(L\) is colored by \(X\), let \({\mathbb Z}_f[X]\) denote the \({\mathbb Z}_k[X]\)-module determined by \(\lq\lq\)beads'' placed on arcs of \(L\) and the set of crossing relations. Let \(R\) be a finite \({\mathbb Z}_k[X]\)-module. The enhanced counting invariant of a link \(L\) associated to \(X\) and \(R\) is defined as the polynomial in \(u\) obtained by summing up \(u^m\)'s, with \(m\) being the cadinality of the sets of \({\mathbb Z}_k[X]\)-module homomorphisms from \({\mathbb X}_f [X]\) to \(R\), over all colorings \(f\) of \(L\) by \(X\). An example, that demonstrates that the enhanced invariant is stronger than the unenhanced kei counting invariant, is given. Moreover, non-invertibility of a certain virtual knot is shown as an application of the enhanced counting invariant associated to a quandle module over the Takasaki kei on \({\mathbb Z}_3\) which is not a \({\mathbb Z}_k[X]\)-module.