Topology and Related Seminars: Dale Rolfsen, UBC

Abstract:

The "group" a knot in 3-space is by definition the fundamental group of its complement; it is one of the oldest algebraic tools used to study knots. Only recently was it discovered that all knot groups can be endowed with a left-invariant ordering. Some even have two-sided invariant orderings, while others do not. This talk will discuss the current state of the art on this subject, and why it is interesting. It will be accessible to grad students.