A non-commutative formula for the colored Jones function (Q863407)

The colored Jones function for a knot \(K\) is the function which maps each positive integer \(n\) to the \(n\)th colored Jones polynomial \(J_n(K,q)\in\mathbb{Z}[q,q^{-1}]\), associated to the \(n\)-dimensional irreducible representation of the quantum group \(U_q(sl_2)\). The paper under review gives a ``noncommutative'' formula for the colored Jones function: For every knot diagram \(K\), there is a matrix \(B_K'\) with entries in a certain noncommutative algebra such that \(J_n(K,q)\) is equal up to multiplication by some power of \(q\) to the inverse of a signed sum of \(q\)-determinants of submatrices of \(B_K'\), interpreted as a ``noncommutative fermionic partition function''. The formula immediately implies the Melvin-Morton-Rozansky conjecture, relating the colored Jones polynomial to the Alexander polynomial, first proved by \textit{D. Bar-Natan} and \textit{S. Garoufalidis} [Invent. Math. 125, 103--133 (1996; Zbl 0855.57004)]. The paper under review complements a work of \textit{V. Huynh} and \textit{T. Q. Le} [On the colored Jones polynomial and the Kashaev invariant, math.GT/0503296], in which a formula for the colored Jones polynomial is given.