The colored Jones polynomial and Kontsevich–Zagier series for double twist knots

Abstract

Using a result of Takata, we prove a formula for the colored Jones polynomial of the double twist knots [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are positive integers. In the [Formula: see text] case, this leads to new families of [Formula: see text]-hypergeometric series generalizing the Kontsevich–Zagier series. Comparing with the cyclotomic expansion of the colored Jones polynomials of [Formula: see text] gives a generalization of a duality at roots of unity between the Kontsevich–Zagier function and the generating function for strongly unimodal sequences.