Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Given a $\text{TQFT}$ in dimension
$d\,+\,1$, and an infinite cyclic covering of a closed (
$d\,+\,1$)-dimensional manifold
$M$, we define an invariant taking values in a strong shift equivalence class of matrices. The notion of strong shift equivalence originated in R. Williams’ work in symbolic dynamics. The Turaev-Viro module associated to a
$\text{TQFT}$ and an infinite cyclic covering is then given by the Jordan form of this matrix away from zero. This invariant is also defined if the boundary of
$M$ has an
${{S}^{1}}$ factor and the infinite cyclic cover of the boundary is standard. We define a variant of a
$\text{TQFT}$ associated to a finite group
$G$ which has been studied by Quinn. In this way, we recover a link invariant due to D. Silver and S. Williams. We also obtain a variation on the Silver-Williams invariant, by using the
$\text{TQFT}$ associated to
$G$ in its unmodified form.