Geometry & Topology 9 (2005) 1443–1499

DOI: 10.2140/gt.2005.9.1443

Abstract

We give a fresh introduction to the Khovanov Homology theory for knots and links, with special emphasis on its extension to tangles, cobordisms and 2–knots. By staying within a world of topological pictures a little longer than in other articles on the subject, the required extension becomes essentially tautological. And then a simple application of an appropriate functor (a “TQFT”) to our pictures takes them to the familiar realm of complexes of (graded) vector spaces and ordinary homological invariants.

Keywords

2–knots, canopoly, categorification, cobordism, Euler characteristic, Jones polynomial, Kauffman bracket, Khovanov, knot invariants, movie moves, planar algebra, skein modules, tangles, trace groups

Mathematical Subject Classification

Primary: 57M25

Secondary: 57M27

References

Publication

Received: 3 November 2004
Accepted: 04 July 2005
Published: 8 August 2005
Proposed: Vaughan Jones
Seconded: Robion Kirby, Cameron Gordon

Authors