Upsilon-like concordance invariants from sl_n knot cohomology

Abstract: We construct smooth concordance invariants of knots which take the form of piecewise linear maps from [0,1] to R, one for each n greater than or equal to 2. These invariants arise from sl(n) knot cohomology. We verify some properties which are analogous to those of the invariant Upsilon (which arises from knot Floer homology), and some which differ. We make some explicit computations and give some topological applications. Further to this, we define a concordance invariant from equivariant sl(n) knot cohomology which subsumes many known concordance invariants arising from quantum knot cohomologies.

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The authors define new knot concordance invariants from (specific deformations of) Khovanov-Rozansky \(\mathfrak{sl}_n\)-homologies. This invariant, called \(\gimel_n\), is analogous to the Ozsváth-Stipsicz-Szabó \(\Upsilon\) invariant from [\textit{P. S. Ozsváth} et al., Adv. Math. 315, 366--426 (2017; Zbl 1383.57020)]. Furthermore, they provide examples where \(\gimel_n\) can be used to obstruct sliceness and concordance to alternating links, whereas \(\Upsilon\) and other known invariants fail. Finally, the two authors define a new concordance invariant \(S\), which is a direct summand of the equivariant Khovanov-Rozansky complex, called the equivariant Rasmussen invariant. This invariant `dominates' a number of known concordance invariants arising from Khovanov-Rozansky homologies. To sketch the construction of \(\gimel_n\) we start by reviewing the construction of \(\Upsilon\). In knot Floer homology one can `blend' the algebraic and the Alexander filtrations on \(CFK^-(K)\) into a unique filtration which depends on a parameter \(t\in[0,2]\). The least possible filtered degree (in homology) where one can find non-trivial elements gives the value of \(\Upsilon_K(t)\). The construction of the invariant \(\gimel_n\) proceeds in a similar, albeit different, way. Once a potential (i.e. a monic polynomial of degree \(n\)) is fixed one can define a deformation of Khovanov-Rozansky \(\mathfrak{sl}_n\)-homology with respect to the chosen potential. In this case we pick the potential to be \(x^n - x^{n-1}\), then there is a well defined (diagram dependent) chain \(\psi_D\). Similarly to the case of knot Floer homology, one `blends' the quantum and \(x\)-filtration on the deformed complex into a unique, \(t\)-dependent, filtration. The value of \(\gimel_n(K)(t)\) is the least possible filtered degree where the homology class of \([\psi_D]\) does not vanish. Similarly to \(\Upsilon\), the invariant \(\gimel_n\) is a piecewise linear function, and provides a lower bound on the slice genus. However, differently from \(\upsilon\), the function \(\gimel_n\) in \textbf{not} a concordance homomorphism (but a quasi-homomorphism), and provides highly non trivial information for quasi-alternating knots. Finally, towards the end of the paper the authors prove that (i) the stable (i.e. up to acyclic summands) homotopy type of the equivariant Khovanov-Rozansky homology is a link invariant, and (ii) the existence of the equivariant Rasmussen invariant \(S\). Fact (i) is a weaker analogue of the concordance invariance of the knot Floer chain complex up to stable homotopy, due to \textit{J. Hom} [J. Knot Theory Ramifications 26, No. 2, Article ID 1740015, 24 p. (2017; Zbl 1360.57002)]. While fact (ii) is reminescent (and can be seen as a partial extension of) the work of \textit{J. Pardon} concerning the Khovanov-Lee homology of links [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 12, No. 2, 1081--1098 (2012; Zbl 1263.57007)].

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