Virtual link groups

Abstract

The authors have previously constructed two representations of the virtual braid group into the automorphism group of the free product of a free group and a free abelian group. Using them, we construct the two groups, each of which is a virtual link invariant. By the example of the virtual trefoil knot we show that the constructed groups are not isomorphic, and establish a connection between these groups as well as their connection with the group of the virtual trefoil knot which was defined by Carter, Silver, and Williams.