A polynomial invariant of virtual links

Zhiyun Cheng, Hongzhu Gao

Published 2013-01-09, updated 2013-09-26Version 2

In this paper, we define some polynomial invariants for virtual knots and links. In the first part we use Manturov's parity axioms to obtain a new polynomial invariant of virtual knots. This invariant can be regarded as a generalization of the odd writhe polynomial defined by the first author. The relation between this new polynomial invariant and the affine index polynomial is discussed. In the second part we introduce a polynomial invariant for long flat virtual knots. In the third part we define a polynomial invariant for 2-component virtual links. This polynomial invariant can be regarded as a generalization of the linking number.