Algebraic and Geometric Topology 3 (2003), paper no. 18, pages 557-568.

A geometric interpretation of Milnor's triple linking numbers

Blake Mellor, Paul Melvin

Abstract. Milnor's triple linking numbers of a link in the 3-sphere are interpreted geometrically in terms of the pattern of intersections of the Seifert surfaces of the components of the link. This generalizes the well known formula as an algebraic count of triple points when the pairwise linking numbers vanish.

Keywords. mu-bar-invariants, Seifert surfaces, link homotopy

AMS subject classification. Primary: 57M25. Secondary: 57M27.

DOI: 10.2140/agt.2003.3.557

E-print: arXiv:math.GT/0110001

Submitted: 7 June 2003. Accepted: 16 June 2003. Published: 19 June 2003.

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Blake Mellor, Paul Melvin
Loyola Marymount University, One LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA
and
Bryn Mawr College, 101 N merion Ave
Bryn Mawr, Pa 19010-2899, USA

Email: bmellor@lmu.edu, pmelvin@brynmawr.edu

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