On an integral version of the Rasmussen invariant

Abstract

We define a Rasmussen $s$-invariant over the coefficient ring of the integers, and show how it is related to the $s$-invariants defined over a field. A lower bound for the slice genus of a knot arising from it is obtained, and we give examples of knots for which this lower bound is better than all lower bounds coming from the $s$-invariants over fields. We also compare it to the Lipshitz-Sarkar refinement related to the first Steenrod square.

20 pages