Formality Map

Universal Quantum Invariant

A universal quantum invariant, (a.k.a formality map, Vassiliev invariant) is a filtered homomorphism such that . If such formality map exists, we call formal.

Theorem

Let denote a filtered algebra, the associated graded algebra, and a candidate model for , with a surjective map . Assume that is a filtered homomorphism , such that . Then is an isomorphism, and is a universal quantum invariant.

universal_quantum_invariant.svg|80%

Proof

Formality on Laurent Polynomials

Formality on Knots

Proposition

The algebra of knots, is formal.

Proof Consider the the space of chord diagrams modulo the 1T and 4T relations, . Let be the canonical projection. Let be the Kontsevich integral. Then

Formality on Tangles