Algebraic topology: knots links and braids

Re:Algebraic topology: knots links and braids by orlandpm on Monday March 09, 2026 @03:35PM (#47314273)

I am a knot theorist (PhD student) and always tickled when the subject pops up on HN. Curious what the author had in mind including this in his algebraic topology notes. Even the Jones polynomial which is both algebra and topology is not usually called "algebraic topology", but rather "quantum topology".

If anyone is interested in a conversational intro to the subject with lots of pictures, I suggest these semi-famous "Knots Knotes" (amazing title)

https://mathweb.ucsd.edu/~justin/Roberts-Knotes-Jan2015.pdf

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Re:Algebraic topology: knots links and braids by jbmsf on Monday March 09, 2026 @08:36PM (#47317748)

I get excited because I went to school with one of Vaughan Jones' children and was (and still am) into math and was blown away when I understood that he was significant.

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Re:Algebraic topology: knots links and braids by srean on Tuesday March 10, 2026 @05:46AM (#47321048)

That's a wonderful set of Knotes. Thank you.

BTW is your book out ? (On algebra and programming)

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Re:Algebraic topology: knots links and braids by agrounds on Tuesday March 10, 2026 @09:59AM (#47323353)

Thanks very much for sharing these notes. I studied algebraic topology in grad school but somehow avoided knot theory entirely. Reading these has sparked that feeling I had when I first got into topology.

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Re:Algebraic topology: knots links and braids by t0mpr1c3 on Thursday March 12, 2026 @12:31PM (#47353382)

This set of notes is a fabulous document. Thank you so much. My personal interest in this subject extends from machine knitting through category theory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEaK68VRAng and more particularly https://textiles-lab.github.io/publications/2025-knit-equiva...)

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