Thistlethwaite's theorem for virtual links
THISTLETHWAITE’S THEOREM FOR VIRTUAL LINKS
SERGEI CHMUTOV AND JEREMY VOLTZ
Abstract. The celebrated Thistlethwaite theorem relates the Jones polynomial of a link with
the Tutte polynomial of the corresponding planar graph. We give a generalization of this
theorem to virtual links. In this case, the graph will be embedded into a (higher genus) surface.
For such graphs we use the generalization of the Tutte polynomial discovered by B. Bollobás
and O. Riordan.
Introduction
Regions of a link diagram can be colored black and white in a checkerboard pattern. Putting
a vertex in each black region and connecting two vertices by an edge if the corresponding regions
share a crossing yields a planar graph. In 1987 Thistlethwaite [Th] proved that the Jones poly-
nomial of an alternating link can be obtained as a specialization of the Tutte polynomial of the
corresponding planar graph. L. Kauffman [K2] generalized the theorem to arbitrary links using
signed graphs and extending the Tutte polynomial to them. An expression for the Jones polyno-
mial in terms of the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial, without signed graphs, was found in [DFKLS].
The idea to use the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial instead of the Tutte polynomial belongs to Igor
Pak. It was first realized in [CP], where Thistlethwaite’s theorem was generalized to checkerboard
colorable virtual links.
Here we shall generalize this theorem to arbitrary virtual links.
We recall the basic definitions of virtual links, their Jones polynomial through the Kauffman
bracket, ribbon graphs, and the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial in Sections 1 and 2. The key
construction of a ribbon graph from a digram of a virtual link is explained in Section 3. Our main
theorem is formulated and proved in Section 4.
The work has been done as part of the Summer 2006 VIGRE working group “Knots and
Graphs” (http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~chmutov/wor-gr-su06/wor-gr.htm) at the Ohio
State University, funded by NSF grant DMS-0135308. We are grateful to O. Dasbach and
N. Stoltzfus for useful and stimulating conversations.
1. Virtual links and the Kauffman bracket
The theory of virtual links was discovered independently by L. Kauffman [K3] and M. Gous-
sarov, M. Polyak, and O. Viro [GPV] around 1998. According to Kauffman’s approach, virtual
links are represented by diagrams similar to ordinary knot diagrams, except some crossings are
designated as virtual. Virtual crossings should be understood not as crossings but rather as defects
of our two-dimensional pictures. They should be treated in the same way as the extra crossings
appearing in planar pictures of non-planar graphs. Here are some examples.
The virtual crossings in these pictures are circled to distinguish them from the classical ones.
Key words and phrases. Virtual knots and links, ribbon graph, Kauffman bracket, Bollobás-Riordan polynomial.
http://arxiv.org/abs/0704.1310v1
2 SERGEI CHMUTOV AND JEREMY VOLTZ
Virtual link diagrams are considered up to the classical Reidemeister moves involving classical
crossings:
and the virtual Reidemeister moves:
The Kauffman bracket and the Jones polynomial for virtual links are defined in the same way
as for classical ones. Let L be a virtual link diagram. Consider two ways of resolving a classical
crossing. The A-splitting,  , is obtained by joining the two vertical angles swept out by
the overcrossing arc when it is rotated counterclockwise toward the undercrossing arc. Similarly,
the B-splitting,  , is obtained by joining the other two vertical angles. A state S of a
link diagram L is a choice of either an A- or B-splitting at each classical crossing of the diagram.
Denote by S(L) the set of the states of L. Clearly, a diagram L with n crossings has |S(L)| = 2n
different states.
Denote by α(S) and (
S) the numbers of A-splittings and B-splittings in a state S, respectively.
Also, denote by (
S) the number of components of the curve obtained from the link diagram L by
splitting according to the state S ∈ S(L). Note that virtual crossings do not connect components.
Definition 1.1. The Kauffman bracket of a diagram L is a polynomial in three variables A, B,
d defined by the formula:
[L](A,B, d) :=
S∈S(L)
Aα(S) B
Note that [L] is not a topological invariant of the link and in fact depends on the link diagram.
However, it defines the Jones polynomial JL(t) by a simple substitution:
JL(t) := (−1)
w(L)t3w(L)/4[L](t−1/4, t1/4,−t1/2 − t−1/2) .
Here w(L) denotes the writhe, determined by orienting L and taking the sum over the classical
crossings of L of the following signs :
The Jones polynomial is a classical topological invariant (see e.g. [K1]).
Example 1.2. Consider the third virtual knot diagram L from the example above. It is shown
on the left of the table below. It has one virtual and three classical crossings (one positive and
two negative). So there are eight states and w(L) = −1. The curves obtained by the splittings
and the corresponding parameters α(S), (
S), and (
S) are shown in the remaining columns of the
THISTLETHWAITE’S THEOREM FOR VIRTUAL LINKS 3
table.
(α, ,
(3, 0, 2) (2, 1, 1) (2, 1, 1) (1, 2, 2)
(2, 1, 1) (1, 2, 1) (1, 2, 1) (0, 3, 2)
We have
[L] = A3d+ 3A2B + 2AB2 +AB2d+B3d ;
JL(t) = t
−2 − t−1 − t−1/2 + 1 + t1/2 .
2. Ribbon graphs and the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial
Ribbon graphs are the objects of Topological Graph Theory. There are several books on this
subject and its applications [GT, LZ, MT]. Our ribbon graphs are nothing else than the band
decompositions from [GT, Section 3.2] with the interior of all 2-bands removed. We modify the
definitions of [BR] to signed ribbon graphs.
Definition 2.1. A (signed) ribbon graph G is a surface (possibly nonorientable) with boundary
represented as the union of two sets of closed topological discs called vertices V (G) and edges
E(G), satisfying the following conditions:
• these vertices and edges intersect by disjoint line segments;
• each such line segment lies on the boundary of precisely one vertex and precisely one edge;
• every edge contains exactly two such line segments,
together with a sign function ε : E(G) → {±1}.
Here are a few examples (if the sign is omitted it is assumed to be +1).
If we put a dot at the center of each vertex-disc and a line in each edge-disc we will get an ordinary
graph Γ, the core graph, embedded into a surface of G. Conversely if we have a graph Γ embedded
into a surface then it determines a ribbon graph structure on a small neighborhood of Γ inside
the surface.
To define the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial we need to introduce several parameters of a ribbon
graph G. Let
• v(G) := |V (G)| denote the number of vertices of G;
• e(G) := |E(G)| denote the number of edges of G;
• k(G) denote the number of connected components of G;
• r(G) := v(G)− k(G) be the rank of G;
• n(G) := e(G)− r(G) be the nullity of G;
4 SERGEI CHMUTOV AND JEREMY VOLTZ
• bc(G) denote the number of connected components of the boundary of the surface of G.
A spanning subgraph of a ribbon graph G is defined as a subgraph consisting of all the vertices of
G and a subset of the edges of G. Let F(G) denote the set of spanning subgraphs of G. Clearly,
|F(G)| = 2e(G). For a signed ribbon graph we need one more parameter of a spanning subgraph.
Let e−(F ) be the number of negative edges in F . Denote the complement to F in G by F = G−F ,
i.e. the spanning subgraph of G with exactly those (signed) edges of G that do not belong to F .
Finally, let
s(F ) =
e−(F )− e−(F )
Definition 2.2. The signed Bollobás-Riordan polynomial RG(x, y, z) is defined by
RG(x, y, z) :=
F∈F(G)
xr(G)−r(F )+s(F )yn(F )−s(F )zk(F )−bc(F )+n(F ) .
In general this is a Laurent polynomial in x1/2, y1/2, and z.
The signed version of the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial was introduced in [CP]. If all the edges
are positive then it is obtained from the original Bollobás-Riordan polynomial [BR] by a simple
substitution x + 1 for x. Note that the exponent k(F )− bc(F ) + n(F ) of the variable z is equal
to 2k(F ) − χ(F̃ ), where χ(F̃ ) is the Euler characteristic of the surface F̃ obtained by gluing a
disc to each boundary component of F . For orientable ribbon graphs it is twice the genus of F .
In particular, for a planar ribbon graph G (i.e. when the surface G has genus zero) the Bollobás-
Riordan polynomial RG does not depend on z. In this case it is essentially equal to the classical
Tutte polynomial TΓ(x, y) of the core graph Γ of G:
RG(x − 1, y − 1, z) = TΓ(x, y)
if all edges are positive, and if not, to Kauffman’s signed Tutte polynomial for signed graphs.
Similarly, a specialization z = 1 of the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial of an arbitrary ribbon graph
G gives the (signed) Tutte polynomial of the core graph:
RG(x− 1, y − 1, 1) = TΓ(x, y) .
So one may think about the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial as a generalization of the Tutte poly-
nomial to graphs embedded into a surface.
Example 2.3. Consider the third ribbon graph G from our example above and shown on the
left in the table below. The other columns show eight possible spanning subgraphs F and the
corresponding values of k(F ), r(F ), n(F ), bc(F ), and s(F ).
(k, r, n, bc, s) (1, 1, 1, 2, 1) (1, 1, 0, 1, 0) (1, 1, 0, 1, 0) (2, 0, 0, 2,−1)
(1, 1, 2, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1, 1, 0) (1, 1, 1, 1, 0) (2, 0, 1, 2,−1)
We have
RG(x, y, z) = x+ 2 + y + xyz
2 + 2yz + y2z .
THISTLETHWAITE’S THEOREM FOR VIRTUAL LINKS 5
3. Ribbon graphs associated with virtual links
In this section we describe a construction of a ribbon graph starting with a virtual link diagram.
Our construction is similar to the classical Seifert algorithm of a construction of the Seifert surface
of a link. There are two differences. The first one is that we do not twist the bands in small
neighborhoods of the crossings. The second one is that we do not care how our ribbon graph is
embedded into the three space.
Suppose our virtual link diagram L is oriented. Then there is a state where all the splittings
preserve orientation. Following a suggestion of N. Stoltzfus, we will call it the Seifert state,
because its state circles are the Seifert circles of the link diagram. Also we will call all splittings
in the Seifert state Seifert splittings.
The Seifert circles will be the boundary circles of the vertex-discs of the future ribbon graph.
So we are going to glue in a disc to each Seifert circle. Before that, though, let us describe the
edges of the ribbon graph. When we are doing a Seifert splitting in a vicinity of a crossing we
place a small planar band connecting two branches of the splitting. These bands will be the
edge-discs of our ribbon graph. If the Seifert splitting was an A-splitting we assign +1 to the
corresponding edge-band, if it was a B-splitting then we assign −1. It is easy to see that this sign
is equal to the local writhe of the crossing. So we get a sign function. Because of the presence of
virtual crossings our Seifert circles may be twisted, i.e. they are actually immersed into the plane
with double points at virtual crossings. In the next step of the construction we untwist all Seifert
circles to resolve the double points. This may result in some twisting on the edge-bands. After
that we pull all Seifert circles apart, which could lead to additional twisting of our edges. In the
last step, we glue the vertex-discs into the circles. The signed ribbon graph produced is denoted
by GL. The next example illustrates this procedure.
Example 3.1.
+ + −
Diagram
Seifert state Attaching bands
to Seifert circles
Untwisting
Seifert circles
Pulling Seifert
circles apart
Glue in the
vertex-discs
Another way to explain the same construction is the following. Instead of attaching bands
to the Seifert circles we only mark the places on the Seifert circles where the bands have to
be attached and memorize the order in which the marks occur according to the orientation on
the circles. Then we draw each Seifert circle separately on a plane as a perfect circle oriented
counterclockwise. Now attach edge-bands according to the marks; it is easy to see that this will
always result in a half-twist on each band. The sign function is defined as before.
4. Main Theorem
Theorem 4.1. Let L be a virtual link diagram, GL be the corresponding signed ribbon graph, and
n := n(GL), r := r(GL), k := k(GL). Then
[L](A,B, d) = AnBrdk−1 RGL
Proof. Let L be a virtual link diagram, GL be the corresponding signed ribbon graph, and
denote the Seifert state of GL as S. There is a natural bijection between S(L), the set of states
of L, and F(GL), the set of spanning subgraphs of GL. Namely, given a state S, associate to
it a spanning subgraph FS by the following construction. If a crossing in S is split differently
than it is in S, include its associated edge-band in the spanning subgraph FS . If a crossing is
split the same way for both S and S, do not include the associated edge-band in FS . This gives
6 SERGEI CHMUTOV AND JEREMY VOLTZ
the subgraph FS associated to S. (Certainly |S(L)| = |F(GL)|, because the number of classical
crossings of L is equal to e(GL) by virtue of our construction above.)
For example, consider the link L from example 1.2. We know from above that GL is the ribbon
graph considered in example 2.3. For each state given in the table on page 3, we can associate
to it a spanning subgraph from the table on page 4. Consider the first state S given in the table
on page 3. The two rightmost crossings are split differently than they are in the Seifert state of
L given above. Thus the spanning subgraph associated to this state S via the correspondence
given above is the first subgraph in the table on page 4. In fact, each state in the table on page 3
corresponds correctly to its associated spanning subgraph in the table on page 4. Check that [L]
computed in example 1.2 and RGL(x, y, z) computed in example 2.3 satisfy the theorem.
Now, given that F ∈ F(GL) is associated to S ∈ S(L) as described above (for simplicity, we
write F instead of FS), consider the term
xr(GL)−r(F )+s(F )yn(F )−s(F )zk(F )−bc(F )+n(F ) .
Substituting in x = Ad
, y = Bd
, and z = 1
and multiplying by the term AnBrdk−1 as in the
theorem, we have
AnBrdk−1(AdB−1)r−r(F )+s(F )(BdA−1)n(F )−s(F )d−k(F )+bc(F )−n(F )
= An+r−r(F )−n(F )+2s(F )Br(F )+n(F )−2s(F )dk+r−k(F )−r(F )+bc(F )−1 .
Since r(G) := v(G)− k(G) and n(G) := e(G)− r(G) for any ribbon graph G, we can rewrite our
term as
e(GL)−e(F )+2s(F )B
e(F )−2s(F )
v(GL)−v(F )+bc(F )−1 .
And since v(GL) = v(F ) by the definition of a spanning subgraph, we have
(1) Ae(GL)−e(F )+2s(F )Be(F )−2s(F )dbc(F )−1 .
It suffices to show that this is equal to the Kauffman bracket term Aα(S) B
, since our
bijection described above will then imply the theorem. We first show that e(F )− 2s(F ) = (
S) by
a counting argument. Using the definition of s(F ), we get
(2) e(F )− 2s(F ) = e(F )− e−(F ) + e−(F ) .
Consider the crossings of L and how they are split in S. Let m denote the number of crossings
which are B-splittings in S. Let b denote the number of crossings which are B-splittings in S but
are A-splittings in S. Let a denote the number of crossings which are A-splittings in S but are
B-splittings in S.
Now, since e(F ) is the number of edges included in F , e(F ) equals the number of crossings of
L which are split differently between S and S. That is, e(F ) = a+ b. Recall that e−(F ) denotes
the number of edges in F with sign −1. And since any such edge corresponds to a B-splitting in
S, it is clear that e−(F ) = b.
Since F is the complement of F , e−(F ) denotes the number of crossings which are B-splittings
in S and also in S. So, we deduce that e−(F ) = m− b. Finally, we consider (
S), the number of
crossings which are B-splittings in S. So clearly, (
S) = a+ e−(F ) = a+ (m− b).
THISTLETHWAITE’S THEOREM FOR VIRTUAL LINKS 7
Thus, we have that
e(F )− e−(F ) + e−(F ) = (a+ b)− b+ (m− b)
= a+ (m− b)
This with (2) gives the desired result. And the fact that e(GL)−e(F )+2s(F ) = α(S) is immediate,
since we just showed that e(F )− 2s(F ) = (
S), and certainly e(GL) = α(S) + (
To finish the proof it remains to show that bc(F ) = (
S). For that let us trace simultaneously
a circle of the state S and a boundary component of F . Suppose we are passing a place near a
crossing. If this crossing is split in the same way as in S then we continue to go along the circle
which is locally the same as in S. On the whole ribbon graph GL this means that we are passing
a place where the corresponding edge-band is supposed to be attached. Or, in other words, we
skip the edge and do not include it into the corresponding spanning subgraph. This is precisely
how we obtained F . Now if the passed crossing in S is split differently compared with S, then
we have to switch to another strand of S. This means that we should turn on the corresponding
edge-band in GL, i.e. we should include this edge-band in the corresponding subgraph. Again
this is precisely what we did with F . The next picture with the first state of example 1.2 (the
table on page 3) illustrates this.
Seifert state S GL
Spanning subgraph F = FS S
Therefore, the tracing of the state circles of S corresponds to the tracing of the boundary com-
ponents of F , i.e. bc(F ) = (
So, we have shown that (1) is equal to the term of [L] corresponding to the state S, and thus
theorem 4.1 is proved. �
References
[BR] B. Bollobás and O. Riordan, A polynomial of graphs on surfaces, Math. Ann. 323 (2002) 81–96.
[CP] S. Chmutov, I. Pak, The Kauffman bracket of virtual links and the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial.,
preprint arXiv:math.GT/0609012, to appear in the Moscow Mathematical Journal.
[DFKLS] O. Dasbach, D. Futer, E. Kalfagianni, X.-S. Lin, N. Stoltzfus, The Jones polynomial and dessins
d’enfant, Preprint math.GT/0605571.
[GPV] M. Goussarov, M. Polyak and O. Viro, Finite type invariants of classical and virtual knots, Topology 39
(2000) 1045–1068.
[GT] J. L. Gross and T. W. Tucker, Topological graph theory, Wiley, NY, 1987.
[K1] L. H. Kauffman, New invariants in knot theory, Amer. Math. Monthly 95 (1988) 195–242.
[K2] L. H. Kauffman, A Tutte polynomial for signed graphs, Discrete Appl. Math. 25 (1989) 105–127.
[K3] L. H. Kauffman, Virtual knot theory, European J. of Combinatorics 20 (1999) 663–690.
[LZ] S. K. Lando, A. K. Zvonkin, Graphs on surfaces and their applications, Springer, 2004.
[MT] B. Mohar, C. Thomassen, Graphs on Surfaces, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.
[Th] M. Thistlethwaite, A spanning tree expansion for the Jones polynomial, Topology 26 (1987) 297–309.
Sergei Chmutov
Department of Mathematics
The Ohio State University, Mansfield
1680 University Drive
Mansfield, OH 44906
chmutov@math.ohio-state.edu
Jeremy Voltz
Department of Mathematics,
The Ohio State University,
231 W. 18th Avenue,
Columbus, Ohio 43210
voltz.10@osu.edu
http://arxiv.org/abs/math/0609012
http://arxiv.org/abs/math/0605571
	Introduction
	1. Virtual links and the Kauffman bracket
	2. Ribbon graphs and the Bollobás-Riordan polynomial
	3. Ribbon graphs associated with virtual links
	4. Main Theorem
	References
