Toward the group completion of the Burau representation

Abstract

Following Boardman-Vogt, McDuff, Segal, and others, we construct a monoidal topological groupoid or space of finite subsets of the plane, and interpret the Burau representation of knot theory as a topological quantum field theory defined on it. Its determinant or {\bf writhe} is an invertible braided monoidal TQFT which group completes to define a Hopkins-Mahowald model for integral homology as an $E_2$ Thom spectrum. We use these ideas to construct an infinite cyclic (Alexander) cover for the space of finite subsets of $\C$, and we argue that the TQFT defined by Burau is closely related to the SU(2)-valued Wess-Zumino-Witten model for string theory on ${\mathbb{R}}_{+}^3$.

Extensively revised, with an improved title, submitted. Comments very welcome