The universal Khovanov link homology theory

DOI10.2140/AGT.2006.6.1863zbMATH Open1132.57015arXivmath/0603347OpenAlexW3104240680MaRDI QIDQ863082FDOQ863082

Authors: Gad Naot 

Publication date: 25 January 2007

Published in: Algebraic \& Geometric Topology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We determine the algebraic structure underlying the geometric complex associated to a link in Bar-Natan's geometric formalism of Khovanov's link homology theory (n=2). We find an isomorphism of complexes which reduces the complex to one in a simpler category. This reduction enables us to specify exactly the amount of information held within the geometric complex and thus state precisely its universality properties for link homology theories. We also determine its strength as a link invariant relative to the different topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) used to create link homology. We identify the most general (universal) TQFT that can be used to create link homology and find that it is "smaller" than the TQFT previously reported by Khovanov as the universal link homology theory. We give a new method of extracting all other link homology theories (including Khovanov's universal TQFT) directly from the universal geometric complex, along with new homology theories that hold a controlled amount of information. We achieve these goals by making a classification of surfaces (with boundaries) modulo the 4TU/S/T relations, a process involving the introduction of genus generating operators. These operators enable us to explore the relation between the geometric complex and its algebraic structure.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0603347

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zbMATH Keywords

cobordismcategorificationJones polynomialTQFTKhovanov link homologyquantum knot invariants

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Topological quantum field theories (aspects of differential topology) (57R56)

Cites Work

• A categorification of the Jones polynomial
• Patterns in Knot Cohomology, I
• Khovanov's homology for tangles and cobordisms
• Link homology and Frobenius extensions
• FAST KHOVANOV HOMOLOGY COMPUTATIONS
• TWO-DIMENSIONAL TOPOLOGICAL QUANTUM FIELD THEORIES AND FROBENIUS ALGEBRAS

Cited In (13)

• An Introduction to Khovanov Homology
• A Khovanov type link homology with geometric interpretation
• Universal links for \(S^2\widetilde\times S^1\)
• ON KHOVANOV'S COBORDISM THEORY FOR $\mathfrak{su}_3$ KNOT HOMOLOGY
• Unoriented topological quantum field theory and link homology
• Fixing the functoriality of Khovanov homology
• Khovanov homology and periodic links
• Khovanov homology of graph-links
• Khovanov homotopy type, Burnside category and products
• A cobordism realizing crossing change on \(\mathfrak{sl}_2\) tangle homology and a categorified Vassiliev skein relation
• An odd Khovanov homotopy type
• Morphisms in low dimensions. Abstracts from the workshop held January 22--28, 2023
• A generalization of Rasmussen's invariant, with applications to surfaces in some four-manifolds

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