Topological relaxation of entangled flux lattices: single versus collective line dynamics.

A symbolic language allowing one to solve statistical problems for the systems with non-Abelian braidlike topology in 2 + 1 dimensions is developed. The approach is based on the similarity between a growing braid and a "heap of colored pieces." As an application, the problem of a vortex glass transition in high-Tc superconductors is reexamined on a microscopic level.