Introduction to Knot Theory

W.B.R. Lickorish An Introduction to Knot Theory "This essential introduction to vital areas of mathematics with connections to physics, while intended for graduate students, should fall within the ken of motivated upper-division undergraduates."-CHOICE

• 1. A Beginning for Knot Theory.- Exercises.- 2. Seifert Surfaces and Knot Factorisation.- Exercises.- 3. The Jones Polynomial.- Exercises.- 4. Geometry of Alternating Links.- Exercises.- 5. The Jones Polynomial of an Alternating Link.- Exercises.- 6. The Alexander Polynomial.- Exercises.- 7. Covering Spaces.- Exercises.- 8. The Conway Polynomial, Signatures and Slice Knots.- Exercises.- 9. Cyclic Branched Covers and the Goeritz Matrix.- Exercises.- 10. The Arf Invariant and the Jones Polynomia.- Exercises.- 11. The Fundamental Group.- Exercises.- 12. Obtaining 3-Manifolds by Surgery on S3.- Exercises.- 13. 3-Manifold Invariants From The Jones Polynomial.- Exercises.- 14. Methods for Calculating Quantum Invariants.- Exercises.- 15. Generalisations of the Jones Polynomial.- Exercises.- 16. Exploring the HOMFLY and Kauffman Polynomials.- Exercises.- References.