Algebraic & Geometric Topology 3 (2003) 557–568

DOI: 10.2140/agt.2003.3.557

arXiv: math.GT/0110001

Abstract

Milnor’s triple linking numbers of a link in the 3–sphere are interpreted geometrically in terms of the pattern of intersections of the Seifert surfaces of the components of the link. This generalizes the well known formula as an algebraic count of triple points when the pairwise linking numbers vanish.

Keywords

µ–invariants, Seifert surfaces, link homotopy

Mathematical Subject Classification

Primary: 57M25

Secondary: 57M27

References

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Publication

Received: 7 June 2003
Accepted: 16 June 2003
Published: 19 June 2003

Authors