arXiv subjects

C. -M. Michael Wong

Publications and source records attributed to C. -M. Michael Wong.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Profinite tensor powers

We discuss the problem of defining a tensor product of profinitely many copies of a vector space $V$, and propose a definition $\bigotimes_X^{\mathrm{mcc}} V$ in the special situation that (1) $V$ is finite-dimensional over $\mathbf{F}_2$, and (2) the profinite $X$ indexing the tensor factors is acted on with finitely many orbits by a pro-$2$-group. The "mcc" on the tensor sign stands for "magnetized and conditionally convergent." A variant construction makes sense when $V$ is a bimodule over a ring of the form $\mathbf{F}_2 \times \cdots \times \mathbf{F}_2$, and the index set $X$ has the profinite version of a cyclic order. The definition organizes some computations in Heegaard Floer homology: it can be pitched as a computation of the Heegaard Floer theory of some pro-$3$-manifolds, though we do not know how to define such a thing.

math.RA↗

arXiv2024

Spectral GRID invariants and Lagrangian cobordisms

We prove that the filtered GRID invariants of Legendrian links in link Floer homology, and consequently their associated invariants in the spectral sequence, obstruct decomposable Lagrangian cobordisms in the symplectization of the standard contact structure on $\mathbb{R}^3$, strengthening a result by Baldwin, Lidman, and the fifth author.

math.GT↗

arXiv2024

Lecture notes on Heegaard Floer homology

These are the notes for a lecture series on Heegaard Floer homology, given by the first author at the Rényi Institute in January 2023, as part of a special semester titled ``Singularities and Low Dimensional Topology''. Familiarity with Heegaard diagrams and Morse theory is assumed. We first illustrate the relevant algebraic structures via grid homology, and then highlight the geometric rather than combinatorial nature of the general theory. We then define Heegaard Floer homology in the context of Lagrangian Floer homology, and describe some key properties.

math.GT↗

arXiv2023

Using knot Floer invariants to detect prime knots

We present knot primality tests that are built from knot Floer homology. The most basic of these is a simply stated and elementary consequence of Heegaard Floer theory: if the two-variable knot Floer polynomial of a knot K is irreducible, then K is prime. Improvements in this test yield a primality condition that has been over 90 percent effective in identifying prime knots of up to 30 crossings. As another illustration of the strength of these tools, there are 1,315 non-hyperbolic prime knots with crossing number 20 or less; the tests we develop prove the primality of over 96 percent of them. The filtered chain homotopy class of the knot Floer hat complex of a knot K has a unique minimal-dimension representative that is the direct sum of a one-dimensional complex and two-dimensional complexes, each of which can be assigned a parity. Let delta(K), b_e(K), and b_o(K) denote the dimension of this minimal representative and the number of even and odd two-dimensional summands, respectively. For a composite knot K, we observe that there is a non-trivial factorization delta(K) = mn satisfying (m-1)(n-1) \le 4 min(b_e(K), b_o(K)). This yields another knot primality test. One corollary is a simple proof of Krcatovich's result that L-space knots are prime.

math.GT↗

arXiv2023

Lagrangian Zigzag Cobordisms

We investigate an equivalence relation on Legendrian knots in the standard contact three-space defined by the existence of an interpolating zigzag of Lagrangian cobordisms. We compare this relation, restricted to genus-$0$ surfaces, to smooth concordance and Lagrangian concordance. We then study the metric monoid formed by the set of Lagrangian zigzag concordance classes, which parallels the metric group formed by the set of smooth concordance classes, proving structural results on torsion and satellite operators. Finally, we discuss the relation of Lagrangian zigzag cobordism to non-classical invariants of Legendrian knots.

math.SG↗

arXiv2022

Ribbon homology cobordisms

We study 4-dimensional homology cobordisms without 3-handles, showing that they interact nicely with Thurston geometries, character varieties, and instanton and Heegaard Floer homologies. Using these, we derive obstructions to such cobordisms. As one example of these obstructions, we generalize other recent results on the behavior of knot Floer homology under ribbon concordances. Finally, we provide topological applications, including to Dehn surgery problems.

math.GT↗

arXiv2021

On the tau invariants in instanton and monopole Floer theories

We unify two existing approaches to the tau invariants in instanton and monopole Floer theories, by identifying $τ_{\mathrm{G}}$, defined by the second author via the minus flavors $\underline{\operatorname{KHI}}^-$ and $\underline{\operatorname{KHM}}^-$ of the knot homologies, with $τ_{\mathrm{G}}^{\sharp}$, defined by Baldwin and Sivek via cobordism maps of the $3$-manifold homologies induced by knot surgeries. We exhibit several consequences, including a relationship with Heegaard Floer theory, and use our result to compute $\underline{\operatorname{KHI}}^-$ and $\underline{\operatorname{KHM}}^-$ for twist knots.

math.GT↗

arXiv2021

Upper bounds for the Lagrangian cobordism relation on Legendrian links

Lagrangian cobordism induces a preorder on the set of Legendrian links in any contact 3-manifold. We show that any finite collection of null-homologous Legendrian links in a tight contact 3-manifold with a common rotation number has an upper bound with respect to the preorder. In particular, we construct an exact Lagrangian cobordism from each element of the collection to a common Legendrian link. This construction allows us to define a notion of minimal Lagrangian genus between any two null-homologous Legendrian links with a common rotation number.

math.GT↗

arXiv2019

Skein relations for tangle Floer homology

In a previous paper, Vértesi and the first author used grid-like Heegaard diagrams to define tangle Floer homology, which associates to a tangle $T$ a differential graded bimodule $\widetilde{\mathrm{CT}} (T)$. If $L$ is obtained by gluing together $T_1, \dotsc, T_m$, then the knot Floer homology $\hat{\mathrm{HFK}}(L)$ of $L$ can be recovered from $\widetilde{\mathrm{CT}} (T_1), \dotsc, \widetilde{\mathrm{CT}} (T_m)$. In the present paper, we prove combinatorially that tangle Floer homology satisfies unoriented and oriented skein relations, generalizing the skein exact triangles for knot Floer homology.

math.GT↗

arXiv2019

Lagrangian cobordisms and Legendrian invariants in knot Floer homology

We prove that the LOSS and GRID invariants of Legendrian links in knot Floer homology behave in certain functorial ways with respect to decomposable Lagrangian cobordisms in the symplectization of the standard contact structure on $\mathbb{R}^3$. Our results give new, computable, and effective obstructions to the existence of such cobordisms.

math.GT↗

arXiv2018

An unoriented skein relation via bordered-sutured Floer homology

We show that the bordered-sutured Floer invariant of the complement of a tangle in an arbitrary 3-manifold $Y$, with minimal conditions on the bordered-sutured structure, satisfies an unoriented skein exact triangle. This generalizes a theorem by Manolescu for links in $S^3$. We give a theoretical proof of this result by adapting holomorphic polygon counts to the bordered-sutured setting, and also give a combinatorial description of all maps involved and explicitly compute them. We then show that, for $Y = S^3$, our exact triangle coincides with Manolescu's. Finally, we provide a graded version of our result, explaining in detail the grading reduction process involved.

math.GT↗

arXiv2016

Grid diagrams and Manolescu's unoriented skein exact triangle for knot Floer homology

We re-derive Manolescu's unoriented skein exact triangle for knot Floer homology over F_2 combinatorially using grid diagrams, and extend it to the case with Z coefficients by sign refinements. Iteration of the triangle gives a cube of resolutions that converges to the knot Floer homology of an oriented link. Finally, we re-establish the homological sigma-thinness of quasi-alternating links.

math.GT↗