Triple linking numbers and triple point numbers of certain $T^2$-links (1102.3736v2)

Abstract: The triple linking number of an oriented surface link was defined as an analogical notion of the linking number of a classical link. We consider a certain $m$-component $T^2$-link ($m \geq 3$) determined from two commutative pure $m$-braids $a$ and $b$. We present the triple linking number of such a $T^2$-link, by using the linking numbers of the closures of $a$ and $b$. This gives a lower bound of the triple point number. In some cases, we can determine the triple point numbers, each of which is a multiple of four.