Quandle cocycles from invariant theory

Let G be a group. Any G-module M has an algebraic structure called a G-family of Alexander quandles. Given a 2-cocycle of a cohomology associated with this G-family, topological invariants of (handlebody) knots in the 3-sphere are defined. We develop a simple algorithm to algebraically construct n-cocycles of this G-family from G-invariant group n-cocycles of the abelian group M. We present many examples of 2-cocycles of these G-families using facts from (modular) invariant theory. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.