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Louis H. Kauffman

Publications and source records attributed to Louis H. Kauffman.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Quantizing Braids and Other Mathematical Objects: The General Quantization Procedure

Extending the methods from our previous work on quantum knots and quantum graphs, we describe a general procedure for quantizing a large class of mathematical structures which includes, for example, knots, graphs, groups, algebraic varieties, categories, topological spaces, geometric spaces, and more. This procedure is different from that normally found in quantum topology. We then demonstrate the power of this method by using it to quantize braids. This general method produces a blueprint of a quantum system which is physically implementable in the same sense that Shor's quantum factoring algorithm is physically implementable. Mathematical invariants become objects that are physically observable.

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Parity Biquandles

We use crossing parity to construct a generalization of biquandles for virtual knots which we call Parity Biquandles. These structures include all biquandles as a standard example referred to as the even parity biquandle. Additionally, we find all Parity Biquandles arising from the Alexander Biquandle and Quaternionic Biquandles. For a particular construction named the z-Parity Alexander Biquandle we show that the associated polynomial yields a lower bound on the number of odd crossings as well as the total number of real crossings and virtual crossings for the virtual knot. Moreover we extend this construction to links to obtain a lower bound on the number of crossings between components of a virtual link.

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Octonions

In this paper we review the topological model for the quaternions based upon the Dirac string trick. We then extend this model, to create a model for the octonions - the non-associative generalization of the quaternions.

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A State Sum Link Invariant of Regular Isotopy

This paper has been withdrawn because there is a fundamental error in the computations; with the right computational scheme it seems to be just a version of the Jones polynomial

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Quantum Algorithms for the Jones Polynomial

This paper gives a generalization of the AJL algorithm and unitary braid group representation for quantum computation of the Jones polynomial to continuous ranges of values on the unit circle of the Jones parameter. We show that our 3-strand algorithm for the Jones polynomial is a special case of this generalization of the AJL algorithm. The present paper uses diagrammatic techniques to prove these results. The techniques of this paper have been used and will be used in the future in work with R. Marx, A. Fahmy, L. H. Kauffman, S. J. Lomonaco Jr.,A. Sporl, N. Pomplun, T. Schulte Herbruggen, J. M. Meyers, and S. J. Glaser on NMR quantum computation of the Jones polynomial.

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Topological Quantum Information, Khovanov Homology and the Jones Polynomial

In this paper we give a quantum statistical interpretation for the bracket polynomial state sum and for the Jones polynomial. We use this quantum mechanical interpretation to give a new quantum algorithm for computing the Jones polynomial. This algorithm is useful for its conceptual simplicity, and it applies to all values of the polynomial variable that lie on the unit circle in the complex plane. Letting C(K) denote the Hilbert space for this model, there is a natural unitary transformation U from C(K) to itself such that = where |F> is a sum over basis states for C(K). The quantum algorithm arises directly from this formula via the Hadamard Test. We then show that the framework for our quantum model for the bracket polynomial is a natural setting for Khovanov homology. The Hilbert space C(K) of our model has basis in one-to-one correspondence with the enhanced states of the bracket state summmation and is isomorphic with the chain complex for Khovanov homology with coefficients in the complex numbers. We show that for the Khovanov boundary operator d defined on C(K) we have the relationship dU + Ud = 0. Consequently, the unitary operator U acts on the Khovanov homology, and we therefore obtain a direct relationship between Khovanov homology and this quantum algorithm for the Jones polynomial. The formula for the Jones polynomial as a graded Euler characteristic is now expressed in terms of the eigenvalues of U and the Euler characteristics of the eigenspaces of U in the homology. The quantum algorithm given here is inefficient, and so it remains an open problem to determine better quantum algorithms that involve both the Jones polynomial and the Khovanov homology.

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Remarks on Khovanov Homology and the Potts Model

This paper is dedicated to Oleg Viro on his 60-th birthday. The paper is about Khovanov homology and its relationships with statistical mechanics models such as the Ising model and the Potts model. We give a relatively self-contained introduction to Khovanov homology, and also a reformulation of the Potts model in terms of a bracket state sum expansion on a knot diagram K(G) related to a planar graph G via the medial construction. We consider the original Khovanov homology and also the homology defined by Stosic via the dichromatic polynomial, and examine those values of the Potts model where the partition function can be expressed in terms of homological Euler characteristics. These points occur at imaginary temperature. The last part of the paper reformulates, via a Wick rotation, the Potts model at imaginary temperature as a quantum amplitude and uses the same formalism to give a new quantum algorithm for the Jones polynomial for values of the variable that lie on the unit circle in the complex plane.

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Quantum Knots and Lattices, or a Blueprint for Quantum Systems that Do Rope Tricks

Using the cubic honeycomb (cubic tessellation) of Euclidean 3-space, we define a quantum system whose states, called quantum knots, represent a closed knotted piece of rope, i.e., represent the particular spatial configuration of a knot tied in a rope in 3-space. This quantum system, called a quantum knot system, is physically implementable in the same sense as Shor's quantum factoring algorithm is implementable. To define a quantum knot system, we replace the standard three Reidemeister knot moves with an equivalent set of three moves, called respectively wiggle, wag, and tug, so named because they mimic how a dog might wag its tail. We argue that these moves are in fact more "physics friendly" because, unlike the Reidemeister moves, they respect the differential geometry of 3-space, and moreover they can be transformed into infinitesimal moves. These three moves wiggle, wag, and tug generate a unitary group, called the lattice ambient group, which acts on the state space of the quantum system. The lattice ambient group represents all possible ways of moving a rope around in 3-space without cutting the rope, and without letting the rope pass through itself. We then investigate those quantum observables of the quantum knot system which are knot invariants. We also study Hamiltonians associated with the generators of the lattice ambient group. We conclude with a list of open questions.

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Determinants of rational knots

We study the Fox coloring invariants of rational knots. We express the propagation of the colors down the twists of these knots and ultimately the determinant of them with the help of finite increasing sequences whose terms of even order are even and whose terms of odd order are odd.

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An Extended Bracket Polynomial for Virtual Knots and Links

This paper defines a new invariant of virtual knots and links that we call the extended bracket polynomial, and denote by < > for a virtual knot or link K. This invariant is a state summation over bracket states of the oriented diagram for K. Each state is reduced to a virtual 4-regular graph in the plane and the polynomial takes values in the module generated by these reduced graphs over the ring Q[A,A^{-1}]. The paper is relatively self-contained, with background information about virtual knots and long virtual knots. We give numerous examples applying the extended bracket, including a new proof of the non-triviality of the Kishino diagram and the flat Kishino diagram and non-classicality of single crossing virtualizations. The paper has a section on the estimation of virtual crossing number using the extended bracket state sum. Examples are given of virtual knots with arbitrary minimal embedding genus and arbitrarily high positive difference between the virtual crossing number and the minimal embedding genus. A simplification of < > is introduced and denoted by A[K]. This simplified extended bracket, the arrow polynomial, is a polynomial in an infinite set of variables. It is quite strong (detecting the flat Kishino diagram for example) and easily computable. The paper contains a description of a computer algorithm for A[K] and uses the arrow polynomial, in conjunction with the extended bracket polynomial to determine the minimum genus surfaces on which some virtual knots can be represented.

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Particle Topology, Braids, and Braided Belts

Recent work suggests that topological features of certain quantum gravity theories can be interpreted as particles, matching the known fermions and bosons of the first generation in the Standard Model. This is achieved by identifying topological structures with elements of the framed Artin braid group on three strands, and demonstrating a correspondence between the invariants used to characterise these braids (a braid is a set of non-intersecting curves, that connect one set of $N$ points with another set of $N$ points), and quantities like electric charge, colour charge, and so on. In this paper we show how to manipulate a modified form of framed braids to yield an invariant standard form for sets of isomorphic braids, characterised by a vector of real numbers. This will serve as a basis for more complete discussions of quantum numbers in future work.

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Virtual Homotopy

Two welded (respectively virtual) link diagrams are homotopic if one may be transformed into the other by a sequence of extended Reidemeister moves, classical Reidemeister moves, and self crossing changes. In this paper, we extend Milnor's mu and bar mu invariants to welded and virtual links. We conclude this paper with several examples, and compute the mu invariants using the Magnus expansion and Polyak's skein relation for the mu invariants.

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Quantum Knots and Mosaics

In this paper, we give a precise and workable definition of a quantum knot system, the states of which are called quantum knots. This definition can be viewed as a blueprint for the construction of an actual physical quantum system. Moreover, this definition of a quantum knot system is intended to represent the "quantum embodiment" of a closed knotted physical piece of rope. A quantum knot, as a state of this system, represents the state of such a knotted closed piece of rope, i.e., the particular spatial configuration of the knot tied in the rope. Associated with a quantum knot system is a group of unitary transformations, called the ambient group, which represents all possible ways of moving the rope around (without cutting the rope, and without letting the rope pass through itself.) Of course, unlike a classical closed piece of rope, a quantum knot can exhibit non-classical behavior, such as quantum superposition and quantum entanglement. This raises some interesting and puzzling questions about the relation between topological and quantum entanglement. The knot type of a quantum knot is simply the orbit of the quantum knot under the action of the ambient group. We investigate quantum observables which are invariants of quantum knot type. We also study the Hamiltonians associated with the generators of the ambient group, and briefly look at the quantum tunneling of overcrossings into undercrossings. A basic building block in this paper is a mosaic system which is a formal (rewriting) system of symbol strings. We conjecture that this formal system fully captures in an axiomatic way all of the properties of tame knot theory.

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The Fibonacci Model and the Temperley-Lieb Algebra

We give an elementary construction of the Fibonacci model, a unitary braid group representation that is universal for quantum computation. This paper is dedicated to Professor C. N. Yang, on his 85-th birthday.

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Invariants of Welded Virtual Knots Via Crossed Module Invariants of Knotted Surfaces

We define an invariant of welded virtual knots from each finite crossed module by considering crossed module invariants of ribbon knotted surfaces which are naturally associated with them. We elucidate that the invariants obtained are non trivial by calculating explicit examples. We define welded virtual graphs and consider invariants of them defined in a similar way.

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