Colored Jones Function Research Articles

On the geometry of two state models for the colored Jones polynomial

Using the flow property of the [Formula: see text]-matrix defining the colored Jones polynomial, we establish a natural bijection between the set of states on the part arc-graph of a link projection and the set of states on a corresponding bichromatic digraph, called arc-graph, as defined by Garoufalidis and Loebl [A non-commutative formula for the colored Jones function, Math. Ann. 336 (2006) 867–900]. We use this to give a new and essentially elementary proof for the knot state-sum formula in [S. Garoufalidis and M. Loebl, A non-commutative formula for the colored Jones function, Math. Ann. 336 (2006) 867–900]. We will show that the state-sum contributions of states on the part arc-graph defined by the universal [Formula: see text]-matrix of [Formula: see text] correspond, under our bijection of sets of states, to the contributions in [S. Garoufalidis and M. Loebl, A non-commutative formula for the colored Jones function, Math. Ann. 336 (2006) 867–900]. This will show that the two state models are in fact not essentially distinct. Our approach will also extend the formula of Garoufalidis and Loebl to links. This requires some additional nontrivial observations concerning the geometry of states on the part arc-graphs. We will discuss in detail the computation of the arc-graph state-sum, in particular for [Formula: see text]-braid closures.

A unification of the ADO and colored Jones polynomials of a knot

In this paper we prove that the family of colored Jones polynomials of a knot in S^3 determines the family of ADO polynomials of this knot. More precisely, we construct a two variables knot invariant unifying both the ADO and the colored Jones polynomials. On the one hand, the first variable q can be evaluated at 2r roots of unity with r \in \mathbb{N}^* and we obtain the ADO polynomial over the Alexander polynomial. On the other hand, the second variable A evaluated at A=q^n gives the colored Jones polynomials. From this, we exhibit a map sending, for any knot, the family of colored Jones polynomials to the family of ADO polynomials. As a direct application of this fact, we will prove that every ADO polynomial is holonomic and is annihilated by the same polynomial as of the colored Jones function. The construction of the unified invariant will use completions of rings and algebra. We will also show how to recover our invariant from Habiro’s quantum \mathfrak{sl}_2 completion studied by Habiro in [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 211 (2007), 265–292], showing that it corresponds in fact to the two-variable colored Jones invariant defined by Habiro in [Invent. Math. 171 (2008), 1–81].

Proof of a stronger version of the AJ Conjecture for torus knots

For a knot $K$ in $S^3$, the $sl_2$-colored Jones function $J_K(n)$ is a sequence of Laurent polynomials in the variable $t$, which is known to satisfy non-trivial linear recurrence relations. The operator corresponding to the minimal linear recurrence relation is called the recurrence polynomial of $K$. The AJ conjecture \cite{Ga04} states that when reducing $t=-1$, the recurrence polynomial is essentially equal to the $A$-polynomial of $K$. In this paper we consider a stronger version of the AJ conjecture, proposed by Sikora \cite{Si}, and confirm it for all torus knots.

Asymptotics of the colored Jones function of a knot

To a knot in 3-space, one can associate a sequence of Laurent polynomials, whose $n$th term is the $n$th colored Jones polynomial. The paper is concerned with the asymptotic behavior of the value of the $n$th colored Jones polynomial at $e^{\a/n}$, when $\a$ is a fixed complex number and $n$ tends to infinity. We analyze this asymptotic behavior to all orders in $1/n$ when $\a$ is a sufficiently small complex number. In addition, we give upper bounds for the coefficients and degree of the $n$th colored Jones polynomial, with applications to upper bounds in the Generalized Volume Conjecture. Work of Agol-Dunfield-Storm-W.Thurston implies that our bounds are asymptotically optimal. Moreover, we give results for the Generalized Volume Conjecture when $\a$ is near $2 \pi i$. Our proofs use crucially the cyclotomic expansion of the colored Jones function, due to Habiro.

DIFFERENCE AND DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS FOR THE COLORED JONES FUNCTION

The colored Jones function of a knot is a sequence of Laurent polynomials. It was shown by Le and the author that such sequences are q-holonomic, that is, they satisfy linear q-difference equations with coefficients Laurent polynomials in q and qn. We show from first principles that q-holonomic sequences give rise to modules over a q-Weyl ring. Frohman–Gelca–LoFaro have identified the latter ring with the ring of even functions of the quantum torus, and with the Kauffman bracket skein module of the torus. Via this identification, we study relations among the orthogonal, peripheral and recursion ideal of the colored Jones function, introduced by the above mentioned authors. In the second part of the paper, we convert the linear q-difference equations of the colored Jones function in terms of a hierarchy of linear ordinary differential equations for its loop expansion. This conversion is a version of the WKB method, and may shed some information on the problem of asymptotics of the colored Jones function of a knot.

TheC–polynomial of a knot

In an earlier paper the first author defined a non-commutative A-polynomial for knots in 3-space, using the colored Jones function. The idea is that the colored Jones function of a knot satisfies a non-trivial linear q-difference equation. Said differently, the colored Jones function of a knot is annihilated by a non-zero ideal of the Weyl algebra which is generalted (after localization) by the non-commutative A-polynomial of a knot. In that paper, it was conjectured that this polynomial (which has to do with representations of the quantum group U_q(SL_2)) specializes at q=1 to the better known A-polynomial of a knot, which has to do with genuine SL_2(C) representations of the knot complement. Computing the non-commutative A-polynomial of a knot is a difficult task which so far has been achieved for the two simplest knots. In the present paper, we introduce the C-polynomial of a knot, along with its non-commutative version, and give an explicit computation for all twist knots. In a forthcoming paper, we will use this information to compute the non-commutative A-polynomial of twist knots. Finally, we formulate a number of conjectures relating the A, the C-polynomial and the Alexander polynomial, all confirmed for the class of twist knots.

Chromatic polynomial, q-binomial counting and colored Jones function

We define a q-chromatic function and q-dichromate on graphs and compare it with existing graph functions. Then we study in more detail the class of general chordal graphs. This is partly motivated by the graph isomorphism problem. Finally we relate the q-chromatic function to the colored Jones function of knots. This leads to a curious expression of the colored Jones function of a knot diagram K as a chromatic operator applied to a power series whose coefficients are linear combinations of long chord diagrams. Chromatic operators are directly related to weight systems by the work of Chmutov, Duzhin, Lando and Noble, Welsh.

IS THE JONES POLYNOMIAL OF A KNOT REALLY A POLYNOMIAL?

The Jones polynomial of a knot in 3-space is a Laurent polynomial in q, with integer coefficients. Many people have pondered why this is so, and what a proper generalization of the Jones polynomial for knots in other closed 3-manifolds is. Our paper centers around this question. After reviewing several existing definitions of the Jones polynomial, we argue that the Jones polynomial is really an analytic function, in the sense of Habiro. Using this, we extend the holonomicity properties of the colored Jones function of a knot in 3-space to the case of a knot in an integer homology sphere, and we formulate an analogue of the AJ Conjecture. Our main tools are various integrality properties of topological quantum field theory invariants of links in 3-manifolds, manifested in Habiro's work on the colored Jones function.

A non-commutative formula for the colored Jones function

The colored Jones function of a knot is a sequence of Laurent polynomials that encodes the Jones polynomial of a knot and its parallels. It has been understood in terms of representations of quantum groups and Witten gave an intrinsic quantum field theory interpretation of the colored Jones function as the expectation value of Wilson loops of a 3-dimensional gauge theory, the Chern–Simons theory. We present the colored Jones function as an evaluation of the inverse of a non-commutative fermionic partition function. This result is in the form familiar in quantum field theory, namely the inverse of a generalized determinant. Our formula also reveals a direct relation between the Alexander polynomial and the colored Jones function of a knot and immediately implies the extensively studied Melvin–Morton–Rozansky conjecture, first proved by Bar–Natan and the first author about 10 years ago. Our results complement recent work of Huynh and Le, who also give a non-commutative formulae for the colored Jones function of a knot, starting from a non-commutative formula for the R matrix of the quantum group \(U_{q}(\mathfrak{sl}_{2})\); see Huynh and Le (in math.GT/0503296).

ON HABIRO'S CYCLOTOMIC EXPANSIONS OF THE OHTSUKI INVARIANT

We give a self-contained treatment of Le and Habiro's approach to the Jones function of a knot and Habiro's cyclotomic form of the Ohtsuki invariant for manifolds obtained by surgery around a knot. On the way we reproduce a state sum formula of Garoufalidis and Le for the colored Jones function of a knot. As a corollary, we obtain bounds on the growth of coefficients in the Ohtsuki series for manifolds obtained by surgery around a knot, which support the slope conjecture of Jacoby and the first author.

Random Walks And The Colored Jones Function

It can be conjectured that the colored Jones function of a knot can be computed in terms of counting paths on the graph of a planar projection of a knot. On the combinatorial level, the colored Jones function can be replaced by its weight system. We give two curious formulas for the weight system of a colored Jones function: one in terms of the permanent of a matrix associated to a chord diagram, and another in terms of counting paths of intersecting chords.

The colored Jones function is q-holonomic

A function of several variables is called holonomic if, roughly speaking, it is determined from finitely many of its values via finitely many linear recursion relations with polynomial coefficients. Zeilberger was the first to notice that the abstract notion of holonomicity can be applied to verify, in a systematic and computerized way, combinatorial identities among special functions. Using a general state sum definition of the colored Jones function of a link in 3-space, we prove from first principles that the colored Jones function is a multisum of a q-proper-hypergeometric function, and thus it is q-holonomic. We demonstrate our results by computer calculations.

Experimental evidence for the Volume Conjecture for the simplest hyperbolic non-2–bridge knot

Loosely speaking, the Volume Conjecture states that the limit of the n-th colored Jones polynomial of a hyperbolic knot, evaluated at the primitive complex n-th root of unity is a sequence of complex numbers that grows exponentially. Moreover, the exponential growth rate is proportional to the hyperbolic volume of the knot. We provide an efficient formula for the colored Jones function of the simplest hyperbolic non-2-bridge knot, and using this formula, we provide numerical evidence for the Hyperbolic Volume Conjecture for the simplest hyperbolic non-2-bridge knot.

Quantum Invariant for Torus Link and Modular Forms

We consider an asymptotic expansion of Kashaev’s invariant or of the colored Jones function for the torus link T(2,2m). We shall give q-series identity related to these invariants, and show that the invariant is regarded as a limit of q being N-th root of unity of the Eichler integral of a modular form of weight 3/2 which is related to the character.