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Nathan M. Dunfield

Publications and source records attributed to Nathan M. Dunfield.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2012

Behavior of knot invariants under genus 2 mutation

Genus 2 mutation is the process of cutting a 3-manifold along an embedded closed genus 2 surface, twisting by the hyper-elliptic involution, and gluing back. This paper compares genus 2 mutation with the better-known Conway mutation in the context of knots in the 3-sphere. Despite the fact that any Conway mutation can be achieved by a sequence of at most two genus 2 mutations, the invariants that are preserved by genus 2 mutation are a proper subset of those preserved by Conway mutation. In particular, while the Alexander and Jones polynomials are preserved by genus 2 mutation, the HOMFLY-PT polynomial is not. In the case of the sl_2-Khovanov homology, which may or may not be invariant under Conway mutation, we give an example where genus 2 mutation changes this homology. Finally, using these techniques, we exhibit examples of knots with the same same colored Jones polynomials, HOMFLY-PT polynomial, Kauffman polynomial, signature and volume, but different Khovanov homology.

math.GT↗
arXiv2012

Twisted Alexander polynomials of hyperbolic knots

We study a twisted Alexander polynomial naturally associated to a hyperbolic knot in an integer homology 3-sphere via a lift of the holonomy representation to SL(2, C). It is an unambiguous symmetric Laurent polynomial whose coefficients lie in the trace field of the knot. It contains information about genus, fibering, and chirality, and moreover is powerful enough to sometimes detect mutation. We calculated this invariant numerically for all 313,209 hyperbolic knots in S^3 with at most 15 crossings, and found that in all cases it gave a sharp bound on the genus of the knot and determined both fibering and chirality. We also study how such twisted Alexander polynomials vary as one moves around in an irreducible component X_0 of the SL(2, C)-character variety of the knot group. We show how to understand all of these polynomials at once in terms of a polynomial whose coefficients lie in the function field of X_0. We use this to help explain some of the patterns observed for knots in S^3, and explore a potential relationship between this universal polynomial and the Culler-Shalen theory of surfaces associated to ideal points.

math.GT↗
arXiv2011

Incompressibility criteria for spun-normal surfaces

We give a simple sufficient condition for a spun-normal surface in an ideal triangulation to be incompressible, namely that it is a vertex surface with non-empty boundary which has a quadrilateral in each tetrahedron. While this condition is far from being necessary, it is powerful enough to give two new results: the existence of alternating knots with non-integer boundary slopes, and a proof of the Slope Conjecture for a large class of 2-fusion knots. While the condition and conclusion are purely topological, the proof uses the Culler-Shalen theory of essential surfaces arising from ideal points of the character variety, as reinterpreted by Thurston and Yoshida. The criterion itself comes from the work of Kabaya, which we place into the language of normal surface theory. This allows the criterion to be easily applied, and gives the framework for proving that the surface is incompressible. We also explore which spun-normal surfaces arise from ideal points of the deformation variety. In particular, we give an example where no vertex or fundamental surface arises in this way.

math.GT↗
arXiv2011

Quantum invariants of random 3-manifolds

We consider the SO(3) Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev quantum invariants of random 3-manifolds. When the level r is prime, we show that the asymptotic distribution of the absolute value of these invariants is given by the standard Rayleigh distribution and independent of the choice of level. Hence the probability that the quantum invariant certifies the Heegaard genus of a random 3-manifold of a fixed Heegaard genus g is positive but very small, less than 10^-7 except when g < 4. We also examine random surface bundles over the circle and find the same distribution for quantum invariants there.

math.GT↗
arXiv2011

The Least Spanning Area of a Knot and the Optimal Bounding Chain Problem

Two fundamental objects in knot theory are the minimal genus surface and the least area surface bounded by a knot in a 3-dimensional manifold. When the knot is embedded in a general 3-manifold, the problems of finding these surfaces were shown to be NP-complete and NP-hard respectively. However, there is evidence that the special case when the ambient manifold is R^3, or more generally when the second homology is trivial, should be considerably more tractable. Indeed, we show here that a natural discrete version of the least area surface can be found in polynomial time. The precise setting is that the knot is a 1-dimensional subcomplex of a triangulation of the ambient 3-manifold. The main tool we use is a linear programming formulation of the Optimal Bounding Chain Problem (OBCP), where one is required to find the smallest norm chain with a given boundary. While the decision variant of OBCP is NP-complete in general, we give conditions under which it can be solved in polynomial time. We then show that the least area surface can be constructed from the optimal bounding chain using a standard desingularization argument from 3-dimensional topology. We also prove that the related Optimal Homologous Chain Problem is NP-complete for homology with integer coefficients, complementing the corresponding result of Chen and Freedman for mod 2 homology.

cs.CG↗
arXiv2010

Closed surface bundles of least volume

Since the set of volumes of hyperbolic 3-manifolds is well ordered, for each fixed g there is a genus-g surface bundle over the circle of minimal volume. Here, we introduce an explicit family of genus-g bundles which we conjecture are the unique such manifolds of minimal volume. Conditional on a very plausible assumption, we prove that this is indeed the case when g is large. The proof combines a soft geometric limit argument with a detailed Neumann-Zagier asymptotic formula for the volumes of Dehn fillings. Our examples are all Dehn fillings on the sibling of the Whitehead manifold, and we also analyze the dilatations of all closed surface bundles obtained in this way, identifying those with minimal dilatation. This gives new families of pseudo-Anosovs with low dilatation, including a genus 7 example which minimizes dilatation among all those with orientable invariant foliations.

math.GT↗
arXiv2008

Increasing the number of fibered faces of arithmetic hyperbolic 3-manifolds

We exhibit a closed hyperbolic 3-manifold which satisfies a very strong form of Thurston's Virtual Fibration Conjecture. In particular, this manifold has finite covers which fiber over the circle in arbitrarily many ways. More precisely, it has a tower of finite covers where the number of fibered faces of the Thurston norm ball goes to infinity, in fact faster than any power of the logarithm of the degree of the cover, and we give a more precise quantitative lower bound. The example manifold M is arithmetic, and the proof uses detailed number-theoretic information, at the level of the Hecke eigenvalues, to drive a geometric argument based on Fried's dynamical characterization of the fibered faces. The origin of the basic fibration of M over the circle is the modular elliptic curve E=X_0(49), which admits multiplication by the ring of integers of Q[sqrt(-7)]. We first base change the holomorphic differential on E to a cusp form on GL(2) over K=Q[sqrt(-3)], and then transfer over to a quaternion algebra D/K ramified only at the primes above 7; the fundamental group of M is a quotient of the principal congruence subgroup of level 7 of the multiplicative group of a maximal order of D. To analyze the topological properties of M, we use a new practical method for computing the Thurston norm, which is of independent interest. We also give a non-compact finite-volume hyperbolic 3-manifold with the same properties by using a direct topological argument.

math.GT↗
arXiv2007

Finite covers of random 3-manifolds

A 3-manifold is Haken if it contains a topologically essential surface. The Virtual Haken Conjecture posits that every irreducible 3-manifold with infinite fundamental group has a finite cover which is Haken. In this paper, we study random 3-manifolds and their finite covers in an attempt to shed light on this difficult question. In particular, we consider random Heegaard splittings by gluing two handlebodies by the result of a random walk in the mapping class group of a surface. For this model of random 3-manifold, we are able to compute the probabilities that the resulting manifolds have finite covers of particular kinds. Our results contrast with the analogous probabilities for groups coming from random balanced presentations, giving quantitative theorems to the effect that 3-manifold groups have many more finite quotients than random groups. The next natural question is whether these covers have positive betti number. For abelian covers of a fixed type over 3-manifolds of Heegaard genus 2, we show that the probability of positive betti number is 0. In fact, many of these questions boil down to questions about the mapping class group. We are lead to consider the action of mapping class group of a surface S on the set of quotients pi_1(S) -> Q. If Q is a simple group, we show that if the genus of S is large, then this action is very mixing. In particular, the action factors through the alternating group of each orbit. This is analogous to Goldman's theorem that the action of the mapping class group on the SU(2) character variety is ergodic.

math.GT↗
arXiv2005

The Superpolynomial for Knot Homologies

We propose a framework for unifying the sl(N) Khovanov-Rozansky homology (for all N) with the knot Floer homology. We argue that this unification should be accomplished by a triply graded homology theory which categorifies the HOMFLY polynomial. Moreover, this theory should have an additional formal structure of a family of differentials. Roughly speaking, the triply graded theory by itself captures the large N behavior of the sl(N) homology, and differentials capture non-stable behavior for small N, including knot Floer homology. The differentials themselves should come from another variant of sl(N) homology, namely the deformations of it studied by Gornik, building on work of Lee. While we do not give a mathematical definition of the triply graded theory, the rich formal structure we propose is powerful enough to make many non-trivial predictions about the existing knot homologies that can then be checked directly. We include many examples where we can exhibit a likely candidate for the triply graded theory, and these demonstrate the internal consistency of our axioms. We conclude with a detailed study of torus knots, developing a picture which gives new predictions even for the original sl(2) Khovanov homology.

math.GT↗
arXiv2005

Mahler's Measure and the Dilogarithm (II)

We continue to investigate the relation between the Mahler measure of certain two variable polynomials, the values of the Bloch--Wigner dilogarithm $D(z)$ and the values $ζ_F(2)$ of zeta functions of number fields. Specifically, we define a class $\A$ of polynomials $A$ with the property that $πm(A)$ is a linear combination of values $D$ at algebraic arguments. For many polynomials in this class the corresponding argument of $D$ is in the Bloch group, which leads to formulas expressing $πm(A)$ as a linear combination with unspecified rational coefficients of $V_F$ for certain number fields $F$ ($V_F := c_Fζ_F(2)$ with $c_F>0$ an explicit simple constant). The class $\A$ contains the $A$-polynomials of cusped hyperbolic manifolds. The connection with hyperbolic geometry often provides means to prove identities of the form $πm(A)= r V_F$ with an explicit value of $r\in \Q^*$. We give one such example in detail in the body of the paper and in the appendix.

math.NT↗
arXiv2005

Lower bounds on volumes of hyperbolic Haken 3-manifolds

We prove a volume inequality for 3-manifolds having C^0 metrics "bent" along a hypersurface, and satisfying certain curvature pinching conditions. The result makes use of Perelman's work on Ricci flow and geometrization of closed 3-manifolds. Corollaries include a new proof of a conjecture of Bonahon about volumes of convex cores of Kleinian groups, improved volume estimates for certain Haken hyperbolic 3-manifolds, and a lower bound on the minimal volume orientable hyperbolic 3-manifold. An appendix by Dunfield compares estimates of volumes of hyperbolic 3-manifolds drilled along a closed embedded geodesic with experimental data.

math.DG↗
arXiv2005

An ascending HNN extension of a free group inside SL(2,C)

We give an example of a subgroup of SL(2,C) which is a strictly ascending HNN extension of a non-abelian finitely generated free group F. In particular, we exhibit a free group F in SL(2,C) of rank 6 which is conjugate to a proper subgroup of itself. This answers positively a question of Drutu and Sapir. The main ingredient in our construction is a specific finite volume (noncompact) hyperbolic 3-manifold M which is a surface bundle over the circle. In particular, most of F comes from the fundamental group of a surface fiber. A key feature of M is that there is an element of its fundamental group with an eigenvalue which is the square root of a rational integer. We also use the Bass-Serre tree of a field with a discrete valuation to show that the group F we construct is actually free.

math.GR↗
arXiv2004

Non-triviality of the A-polynomial for knots in S^3

The A-polynomial of a knot in S^3 defines a complex plane curve associated to the set of representations of the fundamental group of the knot exterior into SL(2,C). Here, we show that a non-trivial knot in S^3 has a non-trivial A-polynomial. We deduce this from the gauge-theoretic work of Kronheimer and Mrowka on SU_2-representations of Dehn surgeries on knots in S^3. As a corollary, we show that if a conjecture connecting the colored Jones polynomials to the A-polynomial holds, then the colored Jones polynomials distinguish the unknot

math.GT↗
arXiv2002

Laminations and groups of homeomorphisms of the circle

If M is an atoroidal 3-manifold with a taut foliation, Thurston showed that pi_1(M) acts on a circle. Here, we show that some other classes of essential laminations also give rise to actions on circles. In particular, we show this for tight essential laminations with solid torus guts. We also show that pseudo-Anosov flows induce actions on circles. In all cases, these actions can be made into faithful ones, so pi_1(M) is isomorphic to a subgroup of Homeo(S^1). In addition, we show that the fundamental group of the Weeks manifold has no faithful action on S^1. As a corollary, the Weeks manifold does not admit a tight essential lamination, a pseudo-Anosov flow, or a taut foliation. Finally, we give a proof of Thurston's universal circle theorem for taut foliations based on a new, purely topological, proof of the Leaf Pocket Theorem.

math.GT↗
arXiv2001

Commensurability of 1-cusped hyperbolic 3-manifolds

We give examples of non-fibered hyperbolic knot complements in homology spheres that are not commensurable to fibered knot complements in homology spheres. In fact, we give many examples of knot complements in homology spheres with the property that every commensurable knot complement in a homology sphere has non-monic Alexander polynomial.

math.GT↗
arXiv2000

Alexander and Thurston norms of fibered 3-manifolds

For a 3-manifold M, McMullen derived from the Alexander polynomial of M a norm on H^1(M, R) called the Alexander norm. He showed that the Thurston norm on H^1(M, R), which measures the complexity of a dual surface, is an upper bound for the Alexander norm. He asked if these two norms were equal on all of H^1(M,R) when M fibers over the circle. Here, I give examples which show that the answer to this question is emphatically no. This question is related to the faithfulness of the Gassner representations of the braid groups. The key tool used to understand this question is the Bieri-Neumann-Strebel invariant from combinatorial group theory. Theorem 1.7, which is of independant interest, connects the Alexander polynomial with a certain Bieri-Neumann-Strebel invariant.

math.GT↗
arXiv1998

Cyclic surgery, degrees of maps of character curves, and volume rigidity for hyperbolic manifolds

This paper proves a theorem about Dehn surgery using a new theorem about PSL(2, C) character varieties. Confirming a conjecture of Boyer and Zhang, this paper shows that a small hyperbolic knot in a homotopy sphere having a non-trivial cyclic slope r has an incompressible surface with non-integer boundary slope strictly between r-1 and r+1. A corollary is that any small knot which has only integer boundary slopes has Property P. The proof uses connections between the topology of the complement of the knot, M, and the PSL(2, C) character variety of M that were discovered by Culler and Shalen. The key lemma, which should be of independent interest, is that for certain components of the character variety of M, the map on character varieties induced by the inclusion of boundary M into M is a birational isomorphism onto its image. This in turn depends on a fancy version of Mostow rigidity due to Gromov, Thurston, and Goldman.

math.GT↗