Graduation Year
2016
Date of Submission
4-2016
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Mathematical Sciences
Reader 1
Sam Nelson
Rights Information
© 2016 Jake L Rosenfield
Abstract
This paper gives a brief introduction into the fundaments of knot theory: introducing knot diagrams, knot invariants, and two techniques to determine whether or not two knots are ambient isotopic. After discussing the basics of knot theory an algebraic coloring of knots knows as a bikei is introduced. The algebraic structure as well as the various axioms that define a bikei are defined. Furthermore, an extension between the Alexander polynomial of a knot and the Alexander Bikei is made. The remainder of the paper is devoted to reintroducing a modified homology and cohomology theory for involutory biquandles known as bikei, first introduced in [18]. The bikei 2-cocycles can be utilized to enhance the counting invariant for unoriented knots and links as well as unoriented and non-orienteable knotted surfaces in R4.
Recommended Citation
Rosenfield, Jake L., "Bikei Cohomology and Counting Invariants" (2016). CMC Senior Theses. 1349.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1349
