The colored HOMFLY polynomial is the quantum invariant of oriented links in $S^3$ associated with irreducible representations of the quantum group $U_q(\mathrm{sl}_N)$. In this paper, using an approach to calculate quantum invariants of links via cabling-projection rule, we derive a formula for the colored HOMFLY polynomial in terms of the characters of the Hecke algebras and Schur polynomials. The technique leads to a fairly simple formula for the colored HOMFLY polynomial of torus links. This formula allows us to test the Labastida-Mariño-Vafa conjecture, which reveals a deep relationship between Chern-Simons gauge theory and string theory, on torus links.
In this paper, we present several new structures for the colored HOMFLY-PT invariants of framed links. First, we prove the strong integrality property for the normalized colored HOMFLY-PT invariants by purely using the HOMFLY-PT skein theory developed by H. Morton and his collaborators. By this strong integrality property, we immediately obtain several symmetric properties for the full colored HOMFLY-PT invariants of links. Then, we apply our results to refine the mathematical structures appearing in the Labastida-Mariño-Ooguri-Vafa (LMOV) integrality conjecture for framed links. As another ap…
We study various specializations of the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial. These specializations are used to show that the multivariable link invariants arising from a complex family of sl(m|n) super-modules previously defined by the authors contains both the multivariable Alexander polynomial and Kashaev's invariants. We conjecture these multivariable link invariants also specialize to the generalized multivariable Alexander invariants defined by Y. Akutsu, T. Deguchi, and T. Ohtsuki.
We describe completely the link invariants constructed using Markov traces on the Yokonuma-Hecke algebras in terms of the linking matrix and the HOMFLYPT polynomials of sublinks.
The colored HOMLFY polynomial is an important knot invariant depending on two variables $a$ and $q$. We give bounds on the degree in both $a$ and $q$ generalizing Morton's bounds \cite{Mo86} for the ordinary HOMFLY polynomial. Our bounds suggest that the degree detects certain incompressible surfaces in the knot complement and perhaps more generally features of the $SL(N)$ character varieties of the knot group. We formulate a precise conjecture along these lines generalizing the slope conjecture of Garoufalidis \cite{Ga11}. We prove our conjecture for all positive knots. Our technique is a ref…
We define reduced colored sl(N) link homologies and use deformation spectral sequences to characterize their dependence on color and rank. We then define reduced colored HOMFLY-PT homologies and prove that they arise as large N limits of sl(N) homologies. Together, these results allow proofs of many aspects of the physically conjectured structure of the family of type A link homologies. In particular, we verify a conjecture of Gorsky, Gukov and Stošić about the growth of colored HOMFLY-PT homologies.
We give a rigorous proof of the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomials of the trefoil knot, the figure-eight knot and twist knots. For the trefoil knot and the figure-eight knot, it is expressed by a single sum, and for a twist knot, it is expressed by a double sum.
We prove that the colored HOMFLY polynomial of a link, colored by symmetric or exterior powers of the fundamental representation, is q-holonomic with respect to the color parameters. As a result, we obtain the existence of an (a,q) super-polynomial of all knots in 3-space. Our result has implications on the quantization of the SL(2,C) character variety of knots using ideal triangulations or the topological recursion, and motivates questions on the web approach to representation theory.
Colored HOMFLY-PT invariant, the generalization of the colored Jones polynomial, is one of the most important quantum invariants of links. This paper is devoted to investigating the basic structures of the colored HOMFLY-PT invariants of links. By using the HOMFLY-PT skein theory, firstly, we show that the (reformulated) colored HOMFLY-PT invariants actually lie in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[(q-q^{-1})^2,t^{\pm 1}]$. Secondly, we establish some symmetric formulas for colored HOMFLY-PT invariants of links, which include the rank-level duality as an easy consequence. Finally, motivated by the Labastid…
We conjecture a closed-form expression of HOMFLY-PT invariants of double twist knots colored by rectangular Young diagrams where the twist is encoded in interpolation Macdonald polynomials. We also put forth a conjecture of cyclotomic expansions of HOMFLY-PT polynomials colored by rectangular Young diagrams for any knot.
We first study superpolynomial associated to triply-graded reduced colored HOMFLY-PT homology. We propose conjectures of congruent relations and cyclotomic expansion for it. We prove conjecture of $N=1$ for torus knot case, through which we obtain the corresponding invariant $α(T(m,n))=-(m-1)(n-1)/2$. This is closely related to the Milnor conjecture. Many examples including homologically thick knots and higher representations are also tested. Based on these examples, we further propose a conjecture that invariant $α$ determined in cyclotomic expansion at $N=1$ is a lower bound for smooth 4-bal…
In this paper, we investigate the properties of the full colored HOMFLYPT invariants in the full skein of the annulus $\mathcal{C}$. We show that the full colored HOMFLYPT invariant has a nice structure when $q\rightarrow 1$. The composite invariant is a combination of the full colored HOMFLYPT invariants. In order to study the framed LMOV type conjecture for composite invariants, we introduce the framed reformulated composite invariant $\check{\mathcal{R}}_{p}(\mathcal{L})$. By using the HOMFLY skein theory, we prove that $\check{\mathcal{R}}_{p}(\mathcal{L})$ lies in the ring $2\mathbb{Z}[(q…
Many knots and links in S^3 can be drawn as gluing of three manifolds with one or more four-punctured S^2 boundaries. We call these knot diagrams as double fat graphs whose invariants involve only the knowledge of the fusion and the braiding matrices of four-strand braids. Incorporating the properties of four-point conformal blocks in WZNW models, we conjecture colored HOMFLY polynomials for these double fat graphs where the color can be rectangular or non-rectangular representation. With the recent work of Gu-Jockers, the fusion matrices for the non-rectangular [21] representation, the first …
We present a novel symmetry of the colored HOMFLY polynomial. It relates pairs of polynomials colored by different representations at specific values of $N$ and generalizes the previously known "tug-the-hook" symmetry of the colored Alexander polynomial. As we show, the symmetry has a superalgebra origin, which we discuss qualitatively. Our main focus are the constraints that such a property imposes on the general group-theoretical structure, namely the $\mathfrak{sl}(N)$ weight system, arising in the perturbative expansion of the invariant. Finally, we demonstrate its tight relation to the ei…
We show that the limiting unicolored $\mathfrak{sl}(N)$ Khovanov-Rozansky chain complex of any infinite positive braid categorifies a highest-weight projector. This result extends an earlier result of Cautis categorifying highest-weight projectors using the limiting complex of infinite torus braids. Additionally, we show that the results hold in the case of colored HOMFLY-PT Khovanov-Rozansky homology as well. An application of this result is given in finding a partial isomorphism between the HOMFLY-PT homology of any braid positive link and the stable HOMFLY-PT homology of the infinite torus …
With the help of the evolution method we calculate all HOMFLY polynomials in all symmetric representations [r] for a huge family of (generalized) pretzel links, which are made from g+1 two strand braids, parallel or antiparallel, and depend on g+1 integer numbers. We demonstrate that they possess a pronounced new structure: are decomposed into a sum of a product of g+1 elementary polynomials, which are obtained from the evolution eigenvalues by rotation with the help of rescaled SU_q(N) Racah matrix, for which we provide an explicit expression. The generalized pretzel family contains many muta…
In the present paper we discuss the cabling procedure for the colored HOMFLY polynomial. We describe how it can be used and how one can find all the quantities such as projectors and $\mathcal{R}$-matrices, which are needed in this procedure. The constructed matrix forms of the projectors and the fundamental $\mathcal{R}$-matrices allow one in principle (neglecting the computational difficulties) to find the HOMFLY polynomial in any representation for any knot. We also discuss the group theory explanation of the cabling procedure. This leads to the explanations of the form of the fundamental $…
This paper starts a systematic description of colored knot polynomials, beginning from the first non-(anti)symmetric representation R=[2,1]. The project involves several steps: (i) parametrization of big families of knots a la arXiv:1506.00339, (ii) evaluating Racah/mixing matrices for various numbers of strands in various representations a la arXiv:1112.2654, (iii) tabulating and collecting the results at www.knotebook.org. In this paper we discuss only representation R=[2,1] and construct all necessary ingredients that allow one to evaluate knot/links represented by three strand closed paral…
A very simple expression is conjectured for arbitrary colored Jones and HOMFLY polynomials of a rich $(g+1)$-parametric family of Pretzel knots and links. The answer for the Jones and HOMFLY polynomials is fully and explicitly expressed through the Racah matrix of U_q(SU_N), and looks related to a modular transformation of toric conformal block.
We conjecture the existence of four independent gradings in the colored HOMFLY homology. We describe these gradings explicitly for the rectangular colored homology of torus knots and make qualitative predictions of various interesting structures and symmetries in the colored homology of general knots. We also give a simple representation-theoretic model for the HOMFLY homology of the unknot colored by any representation. While some of these structures have a natural interpretation in the physical realization of knot homologies based on counting supersymmetric configurations (BPS states, instan…
This paper is a new step in the project of systematic description of colored knot polynomials started in arXiv:1506.00339. In this paper, we managed to explicitly find the inclusive Racah matrix, i.e. the whole set of mixing matrices in channels R^3->Q with all possible Q, for R=[3,1]. The calculation is made possible by the use of a newly-developed efficient highest-weight method, still it remains tedious. The result allows one to evaluate and investigate [3,1]-colored polynomials for arbitrary 3-strand knots, and this confirms many previous conjectures on various factorizations, universality…
Weaving knots $W(p, n)$ of type $(p, n)$ denote an infinite family of hyperbolic knots which have not been addressed by the knot theorists as yet. Unlike the well-known $(p,n)$ torus knots, we do not have a closed-form expression for HOMFLY-PT and the colored HOMFLY-PT for $W(p,n)$. In this paper, we confine to a hybrid generalization of $W(3,n)$ which we denote as $\hat{W}_3(m,n)$ and obtain a closed-form expression for HOMFLY-PT using the Reshitikhin and Turaev method involving $\mathcal R$-matrices. Further, we also compute $[r]$-colored HOMFLY-PT for $W(3,n)$. Surprisingly, we observe that…
If a knot is represented by an m-strand braid, then HOMFLY polynomial in representation R is a sum over characters in all representations Q\in R^{\otimes m}. Coefficients in this sum are traces of products of quantum R-matrices along the braid, but these matrices act in the space of intertwiners, and their size is equal to the multiplicity M_{RQ} of Q in R^{\otimes m}. If R is the fundamental representation R=[1], then M_{[1] Q} is equal to the number of paths in representation graph, which lead from the fundamental vertex [1] to the vertex Q. In the basis of paths the entries of the m-1 relev…
It is known that knot homologies admit a physical description as spaces of open BPS states. We study operators and algebras acting on these spaces. This leads to a very rich story, which involves wall crossing phenomena, algebras of closed BPS states acting on spaces of open BPS states, and deformations of Landau-Ginzburg models. One important application to knot homologies is the existence of "colored differentials" that relate homological invariants of knots colored by different representations. Based on this structure, we formulate a list of properties of the colored HOMFLY homology that ca…
In this paper we consider all possible generalizations of the B-type Hecke algebras, namely the cyclotomic and what we call 'generalized', and we construct Markov traces on each of them, so as to obtain all possible different levels of homfly-pt analogues in the solid torus related to the (Hecke) algebras of B-type.
We use categorical skew Howe duality to find recursion rules that compute categorified sl(N) invariants of rational tangles colored by exterior powers of the standard representation. Further, we offer a geometric interpretation of these rules which suggests a connection to Floer theory. Along the way we make progress towards two conjectures about the colored HOMFLY homology of rational links.
We present a new conjectural symmetry of the colored Alexander polynomial, that is the specialization of the quantum $\mathfrak{sl}_N$ invariant widely known as the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial. We provide arguments in support of the existence of the symmetry by studying the loop expansion and the character expansion of the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial. We study the constraints this symmetry imposes on the group theoretic structure of the loop expansion and provide solutions to those constraints. The symmetry is a powerful tool for research on polynomial knot invariants and in the end we sugge…
The Murphy operators in the Hecke algebra H_n of type A are explicit commuting elements, whose symmetric functions are central in H_n. In [Skein theory and the Murphy operators, J. Knot Theory Ramif. 11 (2002), 475-492] I defined geometrically a homomorphism from the Homfly skein C of the annulus to the centre of each algebra H_n, and found an element P_m in C, independent of n, whose image, up to an explicit linear combination with the identity of H_n, is the m-th power sum of the Murphy operators. The aim of this paper is to give simple geometric representatives for the elements P_m, and to …
Obtaining colored HOMFLY-PT polynomials for knots from 3-strand braid carrying arbitrary $SU(N)$ representation is still tedious. For a class of rank $r$ symmetric representations, $[r]$-colored HOMFLY-PT $H_{[r]}$ evaluation becomes simpler. Recently it was shown that $H_{[r]}$, for such knots from 3-strand braid, can be constructed using the quantum Racah coefficients (6j-symbols) of $U_q(sl_2)$. In this paper, we generalise it to links whose components carry different symmetric representations. We illustrate the technique by evaluating multi-colored link polynomials $H_{[r_1],[r_2]}$ for th…
We formulate a conjecture (already proven by A. Kricker) about the structure of Kontsevich integral of a knot. We describe its value in terms of the generating functions for the numbers of external edges attached to closed 3-valent diagrams. We conjecture that these functions are rational functions of the exponentials of their arguments, their denominators being the powers of the Alexander-Conway polynomial. This conjecture implies the existence of an expansion of a colored Jones (HOMFLY) polynomial in powers of q-1 whose coefficients are rational functions of q^color. We show how to derive th…
In this paper, we study the quantum $\mathfrak{sl}(n)$ representation category using the web space. Specially, we extend $\mathfrak{sl}(n)$ web space for $n\ge 4$ as generalized Temperley-Lieb algebras. As an application of our study, we find that the HOMFLY polynomial $P_n(q)$ specialized to a one variable polynomial can be computed by a linear expansion with respect to a presentation of the quantum representation category of $\mathfrak{sl}(n)$. Moreover, we correct the false conjecture \cite{PS:superiod} given by Chbili, which addresses the relation between some link polynomials of a periodi…
We study the structural properties of colored Kauffman homologies of knots. Quadruple-gradings play an essential role in revealing the differential structure of colored Kauffman homology. Using the differential structure, the Kauffman homologies carrying the symmetric tensor products of the vector representation for the trefoil and the figure-eight are determined. In addition, making use of relations from representation theory, we also obtain the HOMFLY homologies colored by rectangular Young tableaux with two rows for these knots. Furthermore, the notion of super-A-polynomials is extended in …
Character expansion expresses extended HOMFLY polynomials through traces of products of finite dimensional R- and Racah mixing matrices. We conjecture that the mixing matrices are expressed entirely in terms of the eigenvalues of the corresponding R-matrices. Even a weaker (and, perhaps, more reliable) version of this conjecture is sufficient to explicitly calculate HOMFLY polynomials for all the 3-strand braids in arbitrary (anti)symmetric representations. We list the examples of so obtained polynomials for V=[3] and V=[4], and they are in accordance with the known answers for torus and figur…
We give a generators and relations presentation of the HOMFLYPT skein algebra $H$ of the torus $T^2$, and we give an explicit description of the module corresponding to the solid torus. Using this presentation, we show that $H$ is isomorphic to the $t=q$ specialization of the elliptic Hall algebra of Burban and Schiffmann [BS12]. As an application, for an iterated cable $K$ of the unknot, we use the elliptic Hall algebra to construct a 3-variable polynomial that specializes to the $λ$-colored Homflypt polynomial of $K$. We show that this polynomial also specializes to one constructed by Chered…
Character expansion is introduced and explicitly constructed for the (non-colored) HOMFLY polynomials of the simplest knots. Expansion coefficients are not the knot invariants and can depend on the choice of the braid realization. However, the method provides the simplest systematic way to construct HOMFLY polynomials directly in terms of the variable A=q^N: a much better way than the standard approach making use of the skein relations. Moreover, representation theory of the simplest quantum group SU_q(2) is sufficient to get the answers for all braids with m<5 strands. Most important we revea…
We study the skein relation that governs the HOMFLYPT invariant of links colored by one-column Young diagrams. Our main result is a categorification of this colored skein relation. This takes the form of a homotopy equivalence between two one-sided twisted complexes constructed from Rickard complexes of singular Soergel bimodules associated to braided webs. Along the way, we prove a conjecture of Beliakova--Habiro relating the colored 2-strand full twist complex with the categorical ribbon element for quantum $\mathfrak{sl}_2$.
The usual construction of link invariants from quantum groups applied to the superalgebra D_{2 1,alpha} is shown to be trivial. One can modify this construction to get a two variable invariant. Unusually, this invariant is additive with respect to connected sum or disjoint union. This invariant contains an infinity of Vassiliev invariants that are not seen by the quantum invariants coming from Lie algebras (so neither by the colored HOMFLY-PT nor by the colored Kauffman polynomials).
We discuss the relation between knot polynomials and the KP hierarchy. Mainly, we study the scaling 1-hook property of the coloured Alexander polynomial: $\mathcal{A}^\mathcal{K}_R(q)=\mathcal{A}^\mathcal{K}_{[1]}(q^{\vert R\vert})$ for all 1-hook Young diagrams $R$. Via the Kontsevich construction, it is reformulated as a system of linear equations. It appears that the solutions of this system induce the KP equations in the Hirota form. The Alexander polynomial is a specialization of the HOMFLY polynomial, and it is a kind of a dual to the double scaling limit, which gives the special polynom…
We give an exposition of how the Kauffman bracket arises for certain systems of anyons, and do so outside the usual arena of Temperley-Lieb-Jones categories. This is further elucidated through the discussion of the Iwahori-Hecke algebra and its relation to modular tensor categories. We then proceed to classify the framed link-invariants associated to a system of self-dual anyons $q$ with $\sum_{x}N_{qq}^{x}\leq2$. In particular, we construct a trace on the HOMFLY skein algebra which can be expanded via gauge-invariant quantities, thereby generalising the case of the Kauffman bracket. Various e…
M. Khovanov and L. Rozansky gave a categorification of the HOMFLY-PT polynomial. This study is a generalization of the Khovanov-Rozansky homology. We define a homology associated to the quantum $(sl_n,\land V_n)$ link invariant, where $\land V_n$ is the set of the fundamental representations of the quantum group of $sl_n$. In the case of a [1,k]-colored link diagram, we prove that its homology is a link invariant. In the case of an [i,j]-colored link diagram, we define a normalized Poincare polynomial of its homology and prove the polynomial is a link invariant.
The aim of this paper is to define two link invariants satisfying cubic skein relations. In the hierarchy of polynomial invariants determined by explicit skein relations they are the next level of complexity after Jones, HOMFLY, Kauffman and Kuperberg's $G_2$ quantum invariants. Our method consists in the study of Markov traces on a suitable tower of quotients of cubic Hecke algebras extending Jones approach.
The affine Hecke algebra $\dot H_n$ of type $A$ is often presented as a quotient of the braid algebra of $n$-braids in the annulus. This leads to diagrammatic representations in terms of braids in the annulus, subject to a quadratic relation for the simple Artin braids, as in the description by Graham and Lehrer in \cite{GL03}. I show here that the use of more general framed oriented $n$-tangle diagrams in the annulus, subject to the Homfly skein relations, produces an algebra which is isomorphic to $\dot H_n$ with an extended ring of coefficients. This setting allows the use of some attractiv…
We want to construct a homological link invariant whose Euler characteristic is MOY polynomial as Khovanov and Rozansky constructed a categorification of HOMFLY polynomial. The present paper gives the first step to construct a categorification of MOY polynomial. For the essential colored planar diagrams with additional data which is a sequence naturally induced by coloring, we define matrix factorizations, and then we define a matrix factorization for planar diagram obtained by gluing the essential colored planar diagrams as tensor product of the matrix factorizations for the essential planar …
For any Legendrian knot $K$ in standard contact ${\mathbb R}^3$ we relate counts of ungraded ($1$-graded) representations of the Legendrian contact homology DG-algebra $(\mathcal{A}(K),\partial)$ with the $n$-colored Kauffman polynomial. To do this, we introduce an ungraded $n$-colored ruling polynomial, $R^1_{n,K}(q)$, as a linear combination of reduced ruling polynomials of positive permutation braids and show that (i) $R^1_{n,K}(q)$ arises as a specialization $F_{n,K}(a,q)\big|_{a^{-1}=0}$ of the $n$-colored Kauffman polynomial and (ii) when $q$ is a power of two $R^1_{n,K}(q)$ agrees with …
We consider braids with repeating patterns inside arbitrary knots which provides a multi-parametric family of knots, depending on the "evolution" parameter, which controls the number of repetitions. The dependence of knot (super)polynomials on such evolution parameters is very easy to find. We apply this evolution method to study of the families of knots and links which include the cases with just two parallel and anti-parallel strands in the braid, like the ordinary twist and 2-strand torus knots/links and counter-oriented 2-strand links. When the answers were available before, they are immed…
We introduce a new class of quantum enhancements we call biquandle brackets, which are customized skein invariants for biquandle colored links.Quantum enhancements of biquandle counting invariants form a class of knot and link invariants that includes biquandle cocycle invariants and skein invariants such as the HOMFLY-PT polynomial as special cases, providing an explicit unification of these apparently unrelated types of invariants. We provide examples demonstrating that the new invariants are not determined by the biquandle counting invariant, the knot quandle, the knot group or the traditio…
Genus 2 mutation is the process of cutting a 3-manifold along an embedded closed genus 2 surface, twisting by the hyper-elliptic involution, and gluing back. This paper compares genus 2 mutation with the better-known Conway mutation in the context of knots in the 3-sphere. Despite the fact that any Conway mutation can be achieved by a sequence of at most two genus 2 mutations, the invariants that are preserved by genus 2 mutation are a proper subset of those preserved by Conway mutation. In particular, while the Alexander and Jones polynomials are preserved by genus 2 mutation, the HOMFLY-PT p…
We prove that the generating functions for the one row/column colored HOMFLY-PT invariants of arborescent links are specializations of the generating functions of the motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants of appropriate quivers that we naturally associate with these links. Our approach extends the previously established tangles-quivers correspondence for rational tangles to algebraic tangles by developing gluing formulas for HOMFLY-PT skein generating functions under Conway's tangle addition. As a consequence, we prove the conjectural links-quivers correspondence of Kucharski-Reineke-Stošić-Sulk…
In this paper we study the group theoretic structures of colored HOMFLY polynomials in a specific limit. The group structures arise in the perturbative expansion of $SU(N)$ Chern-Simons Wilson loops, while the limit is $N \rightarrow 0$. The result of the paper is twofold. First, we explain the emergence of Kadomsev-Petviashvily (KP) $τ$-functions. This result is an extension of what we did in arXiv:1805.02761, where a symbolic correspondence between KP equations and group factors was established. In this paper we prove that integrability of the colored Alexander polynomial is due to it's rela…
In this paper, we propose and discuss implications of a general conjecture that there is a canonical action of a rank 1 double affine Hecke algebra on the Kauffman bracket skein module of the complement of a knot $K \subset S^3$. We prove this in a number of nontrivial cases, including all $(2,2p+1)$ torus knots, the figure eight knot, and all 2-bridge knots (when $q=\pm 1$). As the main application of the conjecture, we construct 3-variable polynomial knot invariants that specialize to the classical colored Jones polynomials introduced by Reshetikhin and Turaev in \cite{RT90}. We also deduce …
