1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910480431003321

Autore

Lickorish W.B.Raymond

Titolo

An Introduction to Knot Theory [[electronic resource] /] / by W.B.Raymond Lickorish

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, NY : , : Springer New York : , : Imprint : Springer, , 1997

ISBN

1-4612-6869-9

1-4612-0691-X

Edizione

[1st ed. 1997.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (X, 204 p.)

Collana

Graduate Texts in Mathematics, , 0072-5285 ; ; 175

Disciplina

514/.224

Soggetti

Manifolds (Mathematics)

Complex manifolds

Group theory

Mathematical physics

Manifolds and Cell Complexes (incl. Diff.Topology)

Group Theory and Generalizations

Theoretical, Mathematical and Computational Physics

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

"With 114 Illustrations."

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

1. A Beginning for Knot Theory -- Exercises -- 2. Seifert Surfaces and Knot Factorisation -- Exercises -- 3. The Jones Polynomial -- Exercises -- 4. Geometry of Alternating Links -- Exercises -- 5. The Jones Polynomial of an Alternating Link -- Exercises -- 6. The Alexander Polynomial -- Exercises -- 7. Covering Spaces -- Exercises -- 8. The Conway Polynomial, Signatures and Slice Knots -- Exercises -- 9. Cyclic Branched Covers and the Goeritz Matrix -- Exercises -- 10. The Arf Invariant and the Jones Polynomia -- Exercises -- 11. The Fundamental Group -- Exercises -- 12. Obtaining 3-Manifolds by Surgery on S3 -- Exercises -- 13. 3-Manifold Invariants From The Jones Polynomial -- Exercises -- 14. Methods for Calculating Quantum Invariants -- Exercises -- 15. Generalisations of the Jones Polynomial -- Exercises -- 16. Exploring the HOMFLY and Kauffman Polynomials -- Exercises -- References.

Sommario/riassunto

This account is an introduction to mathematical knot theory, the theory of knots and links of simple closed curves in three-dimensional space.



Knots can be studied at many levels and from many points of view. They can be admired as artifacts of the decorative arts and crafts, or viewed as accessible intimations of a geometrical sophistication that may never be attained. The study of knots can be given some motivation in terms of applications in molecular biology or by reference to paralĀ­ lels in equilibrium statistical mechanics or quantum field theory. Here, however, knot theory is considered as part of geometric topology. Motivation for such a topological study of knots is meant to come from a curiosity to know how the geĀ­ ometry of three-dimensional space can be explored by knotting phenomena using precise mathematics. The aim will be to find invariants that distinguish knots, to investigate geometric properties of knots and to see something of the way they interact with more adventurous three-dimensional topology. The book is based on an expanded version of notes for a course for recent graduates in mathematics given at the University of Cambridge; it is intended for others with a similar level of mathematical understanding. In particular, a knowledge of the very basic ideas of the fundamental group and of a simple homology theory is assumed; it is, after all, more important to know about those topics than about the intricacies of knot theory.