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Dan Rutherford

Publications and source records attributed to Dan Rutherford.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Skein relations for invariants of Legendrian surfaces

For Legendrian surfaces in 1-jet spaces, we consider augmentation number invariants that together generalize the ruling polynomial of 1-dimensional Legendrian knots and establish skein relations for these invariants. The main skein relation involves four ways of resolving a Legendrian with a double point: perturbing the double point to a contractible Reeb chord in two different ways, and removing the double point via the two Lagrangian surgeries. We apply the skein relations in examples, and use them to provide an alternate proof of the relation between augmentations of Legendrian 2-weaves and face colorings due to Casals, Murphy, and Sackel.

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arXiv2021

Augmented Legendrian cobordism in $J^1S^1$

We consider Legendrian links and tangles in $J^1S^1$ and $J^1[0,1]$ equipped with Morse complex families over a field $\mathbb{F}$ and classify them up to Legendrian cobordism. When the coefficient field is $\mathbb{F}_2$ this provides a cobordism classification for Legendrians equipped with augmentations of the Legendrian contact homology DG-algebras. A complete set of invariants, for which arbitrary values may be obtained, is provided by the fiber cohomology, a graded monodromy matrix, and a mod $2$ spin number. We apply the classification to construct augmented Legendrian surfaces in $J^1M$ with $\dim M = 2$ realizing any prescribed monodromy representation, $\Phi:\pi_1(M,x_0) \rightarrow \mathit{GL}(\mathbf{n}, \mathbb{F})$.

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arXiv2021

Non-fillable augmentations of twist knots

We establish new examples of augmentations of Legendrian twist knots that cannot be induced by orientable Lagrangian fillings. To do so, we use a version of the Seidel-Ekholm-Dimitroglou Rizell isomorphism with local coefficients to show that any Lagrangian filling point in the augmentation variety of a Legendrian knot must lie in the injective image of an algebraic torus with dimension equal to the first Betti number of the filling. This is a Floer-theoretic version of a result from microlocal sheaf theory. For the augmentations in question, we show that no such algebraic torus can exist.

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arXiv2020

Augmentations and immersed Lagrangian fillings

For a Legendrian link $\Lambda \subset J^1M$ with $M = \mathbb{R}$ or $S^1$, immersed exact Lagrangian fillings $L \subset \mbox{Symp}(J^1M) \cong T^*(\mathbb{R}_{>0} \times M)$ of $\Lambda$ can be lifted to conical Legendrian fillings $\Sigma \subset J^1(\mathbb{R}_{>0} \times M)$ of $\Lambda$. When $\Sigma$ is embedded, using the version of functoriality for Legendrian contact homology (LCH) from [30], for each augmentation $\alpha: \mathcal{A}(\Sigma) \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}/2$ of the LCH algebra of $\Sigma$, there is an induced augmentation $\epsilon_{(\Sigma,\alpha)}: \mathcal{A}(\Lambda) \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}/2$. With $\Sigma$ fixed, the set of homotopy classes of all such induced augmentations, $I_\Sigma \subset \mathit{Aug}(\Lambda)/{\sim}$, is a Legendrian isotopy invariant of $\Sigma$. We establish methods to compute $I_\Sigma$ based on the correspondence between Morse complex families and augmentations. This includes developing a functoriality for the cellular DGA from [31] with respect to Legendrian cobordisms, and proving its equivalence to the functoriality for LCH. For arbitrary $n \geq 1$, we give examples of Legendrian torus knots with $2n$ distinct conical Legendrian fillings distinguished by their induced augmentation sets. We prove that when $\rho \neq 1$ and $\Lambda \subset J^1\mathbb{R}$ every $\rho$-graded augmentation of $\Lambda$ can be induced in this manner by an immersed Lagrangian filling. Alternatively, this is viewed as a computation of cobordism classes for an appropriate notion of $\rho$-graded augmented Legendrian cobordism.

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arXiv2019

Sheaves via augmentations of Legendrian surfaces

Given an augmentation for a Legendrian surface in a $1$-jet space, $\Lambda \subset J^1(M)$, we explicitly construct an object, $\mathcal{F} \in Sh_{\Lambda}$, of the (derived) category from arXiv:1402.0490 of constructible sheaves on $M\times R$ with singular support determined by $\Lambda$. In the construction, we introduce a simplicial Legendrian DGA (differential graded algebra) for Legendrian submanifolds in $1$-jet spaces that, based on arXiv:1608.02984 and arXiv:1608.03011, is equivalent to the Legendrian contact homology DGA in the case of Legendrian surfaces. In addition, we extend the approach of arXiv:1402.0490 for $1$-dimensional Legendrian knots to obtain a combinatorial model for sheaves in $Sh_\Lambda$ in the $2$-dimensional case.

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arXiv2019

Legendrian DGA Representations and the Colored Kauffman Polynomial

For any Legendrian knot $K$ in standard contact ${\mathbb R}^3$ we relate counts of ungraded ($1$-graded) representations of the Legendrian contact homology DG-algebra $(\mathcal{A}(K),\partial)$ with the $n$-colored Kauffman polynomial. To do this, we introduce an ungraded $n$-colored ruling polynomial, $R^1_{n,K}(q)$, as a linear combination of reduced ruling polynomials of positive permutation braids and show that (i) $R^1_{n,K}(q)$ arises as a specialization $F_{n,K}(a,q)\big|_{a^{-1}=0}$ of the $n$-colored Kauffman polynomial and (ii) when $q$ is a power of two $R^1_{n,K}(q)$ agrees with the total ungraded representation number, $\operatorname{Rep}_1\big(K, \mathbb{F}_q^n\big)$, which is a normalized count of $n$-dimensional representations of $(\mathcal{A}(K),\partial)$ over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$. This complements results from [Leverson C., Rutherford D., Quantum Topol. 11 (2020), 55-118, arXiv:1802.10531] concerning the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial, $m$-graded representation numbers, and $m$-graded ruling polynomials with $m \neq 1$.

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arXiv2019

Functorial LCH for immersed Lagrangian cobordisms

For $1$-dimensional Legendrian submanifolds of $1$-jet spaces, we extend the functorality of the Legendrian contact homology DG-algebra (DGA) from embedded exact Lagrangian cobordisms, as in \cite{EHK}, to a class of immersed exact Lagrangian cobordisms by considering their Legendrian lifts as conical Legendrian cobordisms. To a conical Legendrian cobordism $\Sigma$ from $\Lambda_-$ to $\Lambda_+$, we associate an immersed DGA map, which is a diagram $$\alg(\Lambda_+) \stackrel{f}{\rightarrow} \alg(\Sigma) \stackrel{i}{\hookleftarrow} \alg(\Lambda_-), $$ where $f$ is a DGA map and $i$ is an inclusion map. This construction gives a functor between suitably defined categories of Legendrians with immersed Lagrangian cobordisms and DGAs with immersed DGA maps. In an algebraic preliminary, we consider an analog of the mapping cylinder construction in the setting of DG-algebras and establish several of its properties. As an application we give examples of augmentations of Legendrian twist knots that can be induced by an immersed filling with a single double point but cannot be induced by any orientable embedded filling.

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arXiv2018

Satellite ruling polynomials, DGA representations, and the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial

We establish relationships between two classes of invariants of Legendrian knots in $\mathbb{R}^3$: Representation numbers of the Chekanov-Eliashberg DGA and satellite ruling polynomials. For positive permutation braids, $\beta \subset J^1S^1$, we give a precise formula in terms of representation numbers for the $m$-graded ruling polynomial $R^m_{S(K,\beta)}(z)$ of the satellite of $K$ with $\beta$ specialized at $z=q^{1/2}-q^{-1/2}$ with $q$ a prime power, and we use this formula to prove that arbitrary $m$-graded satellite ruling polynomials, $R^m_{S(K,L)}$, are determined by the Chekanov-Eliashberg DGA of $K$. Conversely, for $m\neq 1$, we introduce an $n$-colored $m$-graded ruling polynomial, $R^m_{n,K}(q)$, in strict analogy with the $n$-colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial, and show that the total $n$-dimensional $m$-graded representation number of $K$ to $\mathbb{F}_q^n$, $\mbox{Rep}_m(K,\mathbb{F}_q^n)$, is exactly equal to $R^m_{n,K}(q)$. In the case of $2$-graded representations, we show that $R^2_{n,K}=\mbox{Rep}_2(K, \mathbb{F}_q^n)$ arises as a specialization of the $n$-colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial.

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arXiv2017

Generating families and augmentations for Legendrian surfaces

We study augmentations of a Legendrian surface $L$ in the $1$-jet space, $J^1M$, of a surface $M$. We introduce two types of algebraic/combinatorial structures related to the front projection of $L$ that we call chain homotopy diagrams (CHDs) and Morse complex $2$-families (MC2Fs), and show that the existence of either a $\rho$-graded CHD or MC2F is equivalent to the existence of a $\rho$-graded augmentation of the Legendrian contact homology DGA to $\mathbb{Z}/2$. A CHD is an assignment of chain complexes, chain maps, and homotopy operators to the $0$-, $1$-, and $2$-cells of a compatible polygonal decomposition of the base projection of $L$ with restrictions arising from the front projection of $L$. An MC2F consists of a collection of formal handleslide sets and chain complexes, subject to axioms based on the behavior of Morse complexes in $2$-parameter families. We prove that if a Legendrian surface has a tame at infinity generating family, then it has a $0$-graded MC2F and hence a $0$-graded augmentation. In addition, continuation maps and a monodromy representation of $\pi_1(M)$ are associated to augmentations, and then used to provide more refined obstructions to the existence of generating families that (i) are linear at infinity or (ii) have trival bundle domain. We apply our methods in several examples.

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arXiv2016

Cellular Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, part I

We give a computation of the Legendrian contact homology (LCH) DGA for an arbitrary generic Legendrian surface $L$ in the $1$-jet space of a surface. As input we require a suitable cellular decomposition of the base projection of $L$. A collection of generators is associated to each cell, and the differential is given by explicit matrix formulas. In the present article, we prove that the equivalence class of this cellular DGA does not depend on the choice of decomposition, and in the sequel [35] we use this result to show that the cellular DGA is equivalent to the usual Legendrian contact homology DGA defined via holomorphic curves. Extensions are made to allow Legendrians with non-generic cone-point singularities. We apply our approach to compute the LCH DGA for several examples including an infinite family, and to give general formulas for DGAs of front spinnings allowing for the axis of symmetry to intersect $L$.

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arXiv2015

The cardinality of the augmentation category of a Legendrian link

We introduce a notion of cardinality for the augmentation category associated to a Legendrian knot or link in standard contact R^3. This `homotopy cardinality' is an invariant of the category and allows for a weighted count of augmentations, which we prove to be determined by the ruling polynomial of the link. We present an application to the augmentation category of doubly Lagrangian slice knots.

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arXiv2015

Augmentations are Sheaves

We show that the set of augmentations of the Chekanov-Eliashberg algebra of a Legendrian link underlies the structure of a unital A-infinity category. This differs from the non-unital category constructed in [BC], but is related to it in the same way that cohomology is related to compactly supported cohomology. The existence of such a category was predicted by [STZ], who moreover conjectured its equivalence to a category of sheaves on the front plane with singular support meeting infinity in the knot. After showing that the augmentation category forms a sheaf over the x-line, we are able to prove this conjecture by calculating both categories on thin slices of the front plane. In particular, we conclude that every augmentation comes from geometry.

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arXiv2014

Equivalence classes of augmentations and Morse complex sequences of Legendrian knots

Let L be a Legendrian knot in R^3 with the standard contact structure. In [10], a map was constructed from equivalence classes of Morse complex sequences for L, which are combinatorial objects motivated by generating families, to homotopy classes of augmentations of the Legendrian contact homology algebra of L. Moreover, this map was shown to be a surjection. We show that this correspondence is, in fact, a bijection. As a corollary, homotopic augmentations determine the same graded normal ruling of L and have isomorphic linearized contact homology groups. A second corollary states that the count of equivalence classes of Morse complex sequences of a Legendrian knot is a Legendrian isotopy invariant.

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arXiv2013

Ruling polynomials and augmentations over finite fields

For any Legendrian link, L, in (\R^3, \ker(dz-y\,dx)) we define invariants, Aug_m(L,q), as normalized counts of augmentations from the Legendrian contact homology DGA of L into a finite field of order q where the parameter m is a divisor of twice the rotation number of L. Generalizing a result of Ng and Sabloff for the case q =2, we show the augmentation numbers, Aug_m(L,q), are determined by specializing the m-graded ruling polynomial, R^m_L(z), at z = q^{1/2}-q^{-1/2}. As a corollary, we deduce that the ruling polynomials are determined by the Legendrian contact homology DGA.

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arXiv2012

On the S^1 x S^2 HOMFLY-PT invariant and Legendrian links

In \cite{GZ}, Gilmer and Zhong established the existence of an invariant for links in $S^1\times S^2$ which is a rational function in variables $a$ and $s$ and satisfies the HOMFLY-PT skein relations. We give formulas for evaluating this invariant in terms of a standard, geometrically simple basis for the HOMFLY-PT skein module of the solid torus. This allows computation of the invariant for arbitrary links in $S^1\times S^2$ and shows that the invariant is in fact a Laurent polynomial in $a$ and $z= s -s^{-1}$. Our proof uses connections between HOMFLY-PT skein modules and invariants of Legendrian links. As a corollary, we extend HOMFLY-PT polynomial estimates for the Thurston-Bennequin number to Legendrian links in $S^1\times S^2$ with its tight contact structure.

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arXiv2012

Satellites of Legendrian knots and representations of the Chekanov-Eliashberg algebra

We study satellites of Legendrian knots in R^3 and their relation to the Chekanov-Eliashberg differential graded algebra of the knot. In particular, we generalize the well-known correspondence between rulings of a Legendrian knot in R^3 and augmentations of its DGA by showing that the DGA has finite-dimensional representations if and only if there exist certain rulings of satellites of the knot. We derive several consequences of this result, notably that the question of existence of ungraded finite-dimensional representations for the DGA of a Legendrian knot depends only on the topological type and Thurston-Bennequin number of the knot.

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arXiv2011

Generalized normal rulings and invariants of Legendrian solid torus links

For Legendrian links in the 1-jet space of $S^1$ we show that the 1-graded ruling polynomial may be recovered from the Kauffman skein module. For such links a generalization of the notion of normal ruling is introduced. We show that the existence of such a generalized normal ruling is equivalent to sharpness of the Kauffman polynomial estimate for the Thurston-Bennequin number as well as to the existence of an ungraded augmentation of the Chekanov-Eliashberg DGA. Parallel results involving the HOMFLY-PT polynomial and 2-graded generalized normal rulings are established.

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