META-MONOIDS, META-BICROSSED PRODUCTS, AND THE ALEXANDER POLYNOMIAL

We introduce a new invariant of tangles along with an algebraic framework in which it is to be interpreted. We claim that the invariant contains the classical Alexander polynomial of knots and its multivariable extension to links. We argue that of the computationally efficient members of the family of Alexander invariants, it is the most meaningful. These are lecture notes for talks given by the first author, written and completed by the second. The talks, with handouts and videos, are available at http://www.math.toronto.edu/drorbn/Talks/Regina-1206/. See also further comments at http://www.math.toronto.edu/drorbn/Talks/Caen-1206/#June8.