A homological definition of the Jones polynomial

Colored Jones invariants of links in S^3 # k S^2 X S^1 and the Volume Conjecture

We extend the definition of the colored Jones polynomials to framed links and trivalent graphs in S^3 # k S^2 X S^1 using a state-sum formulation based on Turaev's shadows. Then, we prove that the natural extension of the Volume Conjecture is true for an infinite family of hyperbolic links.

三维空间中开放曲线的Jones多项式

The Jones polynomial of collections of open curves in 3-space

本文提出了一种新的Jones多项式定义，用于描述三维空间中开放曲线集合的拓扑和几何复杂性。

Unified invariant of knots from homological braid action on Verma modules

We re-build the quantum sl2 unified invariant of knots $F_{\infty}$ from braid groups' action on tensors of Verma modules. It is a two variables series having the particularity of interpolating both families of colored Jones polynomials and ADO polynomials, i.e. semi-simple and non semi-simple invariants of knots constructed from quantum sl2. We prove this last fact in our context which re-proves (a generalization of) the famous Melvin-Morton-Rozansky conjecture first proved by Bar-Natan and Garoufalidis. We find a symmetry of $F_{\infty}$ nicely generalizing the well known one of the Alexande…

The Tait conjecture in g(S^1xS^2)

The Tait conjecture states that alternating reduced diagrams of links in S^3 have the minimal number of crossings. It has been proved in 1987 by M. Thistlethwaite, L. Kauffman and K. Murasugi studying the Jones polynomial. The author proved an analogous result for alternating links in S^1xS^2 giving a complete answer to this problem. In this paper we extend the result to alternating links in the connected sum #_g(S^1xS^2) of g copies of S^1xS^2. In S^1xS^2 and #_2(S^1xS^2) the appropriate version of the statement is true for \Z_2-homologically trivial links, and the proof also uses the Jones p…

An Introduction to the Volume Conjecture

This is an introduction to the Volume Conjecture and its generalizations for nonexperts. The Volume Conjecture states that a certain limit of the colored Jones polynomial of a knot would give the volume of its complement. If we deform the parameter of the colored Jones polynomial we also conjecture that it would also give the volume and the Chern-Simons invariant of a three-manifold obtained by Dehn surgery determined by the parameter. I start with a definition of the colored Jones polynomial and include elementary examples and short description of elementary hyperbolic geometry.

On Reidemeister invariance of the Khovanov homology group of the Jones polynomial

As Oleg Viro describes in his paper, the most fundamental property of the Khovanov homology group is their invariance under Reidemeister moves. Viro constructes Khovanov complex and homology consisting of Jordan curves with sign and also gives a proof for the only case of first Reidemeister move by using his definition of Khovanov homology groups. In this paper, homotopy maps are obtained explicitly for the other Reidemeister moves, i.e. second and third.

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 is this so, and what is a proper generalization of the Jones polynomial for knots in other closed 3-manifolds. Our paper centers around this question. After reviewing several existing definitions of the Jones polynomial, we show 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 …

Khovanov homology of links and graphs

In this thesis we work with Khovanov homology of links and its generalizations, as well as with the homology of graphs. Khovanov homology of links consists of graded chain complexes which are link invariants, up to chain homotopy, with graded Euler characteristic equal to the Jones polynomial of the link. Hence, it can be regarded as the "categorif\mbox{}ication" of the Jones polynomial. \indent We prove that the f\mbox{}irst homology group of positive braid knots is trivial. Futhermore, we prove that non-alternating torus knots are homologically thick. In addition, we show that we can decreas…

Odd Khovanov homology

We describe an invariant of links in the three-sphere which is closely related to Khovanov's Jones polynomial homology. Our construction replaces the symmetric algebra appearing in Khovanov's definition with an exterior algebra. The two invariants have the same reduction modulo 2, but differ over the rationals. There is a reduced version which is a link invariant whose graded Euler characteristic is the normalized Jones polynomial.

Volume Conjecture: Refined and Categorified

The generalized volume conjecture relates asymptotic behavior of the colored Jones polynomials to objects naturally defined on an algebraic curve, the zero locus of the A-polynomial $A(x,y)$. Another "family version" of the volume conjecture depends on a quantization parameter, usually denoted $q$ or $\hbar$; this quantum volume conjecture (also known as the AJ-conjecture) can be stated in a form of a q-difference equation that annihilates the colored Jones polynomials and $SL(2,\C)$ Chern-Simons partition functions. We propose refinements / categorifications of both conjectures that include a…

Polynomial link invariants and quantum algebras

The definition of the Jones polynomial in the 80's gave rise to a large family of so-called quantum link invariants, based on quantum groups. These quantum invariants are all controlled by the same two-variable invariant (the HOMFLY-PT polynomial), which also specializes to the older Alexander polynomial. Building upon quantum Schur--Weyl duality and variants of this phenomenon, I will explain an algebraic setup that allows for global definitions of these quantum polynomials, and discuss extensions of these quantum objects designed to encompass all of the mentioned invariants, including the HO…

Relations between Witten-reshetikhin-turaev and non semi-simple sl(2) 3-manifold invariants

The Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants extend the Jones polynomials of links in S^3 to invariants of links in 3-manifolds. Similarly, in a preceding paper, the authors constructed two 3-manifold invariants N_r and N^0_r which extend the Akutsu-Deguchi-Ohtsuki invariant of links in S^3 colored by complex numbers to links in arbitrary manifolds. All these invariants are based on representation theory of the quantum group Uqsl2, where the definition of the invariants N_r and N^0_r uses a non-standard category of Uqsl2-modules which is not semi-simple. In this paper we study the second invariant…

Remarks on Khovanov Homology and the Potts Model

This paper is dedicated to Oleg Viro on his 60-th birthday. The paper is about Khovanov homology and its relationships with statistical mechanics models such as the Ising model and the Potts model. We give a relatively self-contained introduction to Khovanov homology, and also a reformulation of the Potts model in terms of a bracket state sum expansion on a knot diagram K(G) related to a planar graph G via the medial construction. We consider the original Khovanov homology and also the homology defined by Stosic via the dichromatic polynomial, and examine those values of the Potts model where …