The authors introduce the basic theory of braid groups, highlighting several definitions showing their equivalence. This is followed by a treatment of the relationship between braids, knots and links. Important results then look at linearity and orderability.

Braids and braid groups form central objects in knot theory and three-dimensional topology. They have also been at the heart of important mathematical developments over the last two decades. This introductory text presents the theory of braids and braid groups to the reader along with the recent developments in this field. Developments related to the linearity and orderability of braid groups are carefully presented. This well-written text is ideal for graduate students and all mathematicians with an interest in braids and braid groups.

Introduces the theory of braids and braid groups Discusses recent developments in the field dealing with the linearity and orderability of braid groups Excellent presentation Includes numerous problems and examples Includes five appendices with other relevant material Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Dr. Christian Kassel is the director of CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France), was the director of l'Institut de Recherche Mathematique Avancee from 2000 to 2004, and is an editor for the Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra. Kassel has numerous publications, including the book Quantum Groups in the Springer Gradate Texts in Mathematics series. Dr. Vladimir Turaev was also a professor at the CNRS and is currently at Indiana University in the Department of Mathematics.

Inhalt
Braids and Braid Groups.- Braids, Knots, and Links.- Homological Representations of the Braid Groups.- Symmetric Groups and Iwahori#x2013;Hecke Algebras.- Representations of the Iwahori#x2013;Hecke Algebras.- Garside Monoids and Braid Monoids.- An Order on the Braid Groups.- Presentations of SL(Z) and PSL(Z).- Fibrations and Homotopy Sequences.- The Birman#x2013;Murakami#x2013;Wenzl Algebras.- Left Self-Distributive Sets.