Free groups and finite type invariants of pure braids
arXiv:math/9909070
Abstract
Finite type invariants (also known as Vassiliev invariants) of pure braids are considered from a group-theoretic point of view. New results include a construction of a universal invariant with integer coefficients based on the Magnus expansion of a free group and a calculation of numbers of independent invariants of each type for all pure braid groups.
14 pages, many figures