Metacyclic Invariants of Knots and Links

Abstract

To each representation ρ on a transitive permutation group P of the group G = π(S – k) of an (ordered and oriented) link k = k1 ∪ k2 ∪ … ∪ kμ in the oriented 3-sphere S there is associated an oriented open 3-manifold M = Mρ(k), the covering space of S – k that belongs to ρ. The points 01, 02, … that lie over the base point o may be indexed in such a way that the elements g of G into which the paths from oi to oj project are represented by the permutations gρ of the form , and this property characterizes M. Of course M does not depend on the actual indices assigned to the points o1, o2, … but only on the equivalence class of ρ, where two representations ρ of G onto P and ρ′ of G onto P′ are equivalent when there is an inner automorphism θ of some symmetric group in which both P and P′ are contained which is such that ρ′ = θρ.