Biracks and Switch Braid Quivers

Abstract

We consider birack and switch colorings of braids. We define a switch structure on the set of permutation representations of the braid group and consider when such a representation is a switch automorphism. We define quiver-valued invariants of braids using finite switches and biracks and use these to categorify the birack 2-cocycle invariant for braids. We obtain new polynomial invariants of braids via decategorification of these quivers.

16 pages. Version 2 includes changes suggested by referee