paper

Weight Systems for Milnor Invariants

arXiv:math/0501280

Abstract

We use Polyak's skein relation to give a new proof that Milnor's string link homotopy invariants are finite type invariants, and to develop a recursive relation for their associated weight systems. We show that the obstruction to the triviality of these weight systems is the presence of a certain kind of spanning tree in the intersection graph of a chord diagram.

13 pages, 8 figures. Latest version has minor technical changes

Weight Systems for Milnor Invariants · wovepaper