Mock Alexander Polynomials

This talk is joint work with Neslihan Gugumcu. We generalize the Formal Knot Theory (FKT) state sum model of the Alexander-Conway polynomial to invariants that apply to numerous situations where the link diagram is configured so that the number of crossings is equal to the number of admissible regions. This includes knotoids and multiknotoids and certain cases of knots and links in thickened surfaces. All invariants are described by a state summation and are formulated as evaluations of the permanent of a matrix associated with the state sum. Beyond the classical case, there is chirality detection in these invariants. Possible categorifications of the invariants will be discussed.