On framings of links in 3-manifolds

We show that the only way of changing the framing of a link by ambient isotopy in an oriented $3$ -manifold is when the manifold has a properly embedded non-separating $S^{2}$ . This change of framing is given by the Dirac trick, also known as the light bulb trick. The main tool we use is based on McCullough’s work on the mapping class groups of $3$ -manifolds. We also relate our results to the theory of skein modules.

The Kauffman bracket skein module of the handlebody of genus 2 via braids

In this paper we present two new bases, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], for the Kauffman bracket skein module of the handlebody of genus 2 [Formula: see text], KBSM[Formula: see text]. We start from the well-known Przytycki-basis of KBSM[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and using the technique of parting we present elements in [Formula: see text] in open braid form. We define an ordering relation on an augmented set [Formula: see text] consisting of monomials of all different “loopings” in [Formula: see text], that contains the sets [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] as proper subsets. Using the Kauffman bracket skein relation we relate [Formula: see text] to the sets [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] via a lower triangular infinite matrix with invertible elements in the diagonal. The basis [Formula: see text] is an intermediate step in order to reach at elements in [Formula: see text] that have no crossings on the level of braids, and in that sense, [Formula: see text] is a more natural basis of KBSM[Formula: see text]. Moreover, this basis is appropriate in order to compute Kauffman bracket skein modules of closed–connected–oriented (c.c.o.) 3-manifolds [Formula: see text] that are obtained from [Formula: see text] by surgery, since isotopy moves in [Formula: see text] are naturally described by elements in [Formula: see text].

Remarks on Chebyshev polynomials, Fibonacci polynomials and Kauffman bracket skein modules

The Chebyshev polynomials appear somewhat mysteriously in the theory of the skein modules. A generalization of the Chebyshev polynomials is proposed so that it includes both Chebyshev and Fibonacci and Lucas polynomials as special cases. Then, since it requires relaxation of a condition for traces of matrix powers and matrix representations, similar relaxation leads to a generalization of the Jones polynomial via reinterpretation of the Kauffman bracket construction. Moreover, the Witten’s approach via counting solutions of the Kapustin–Witten equation to get the Jones polynomial is simplified in the trivial knots case to studying solutions of a Laplace operator. Thus, harmonic ideas may be of importance in knot theory. Speculations on extension(s) of the latter approach via consideration of spin structures and related operators are given.

The Dubrovnik and Kauffman skein modules of the lens spaces Lp,1

We compute the Dubrovnik skein module of the lens spaces [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], as well as the Kauffman two variables skein module when [Formula: see text] is odd. We also show that there is torsion in the Kauffman skein module when [Formula: see text] is even.