Hodge-type structures as link invariants (Q1955962)

Given a link \(L\) in \(S^3\), the authors define, from a Seifert matrix for \(L\), a hermitian variation structure, and use this to define a set of invariants of \(L\) called `H-numbers'. These are chosen to agree with existing invariants for algebraic links. In Section 2.4 the authors recall the relationship to Hodge theory, which provides the motivation for these definitions. Using these numbers, they also define the `(mod 2)-spectrum' and the `extended spectrum' of \(L\). Having made these definitions, the authors relate them to other link invariants: the Alexander polynomials (calculated over \(\mathbb{R}\) rather than over \(\mathbb{Z}\)), the Nakanishi index (over \(\mathbb{Q}\) rather than over \(\mathbb{Z}\)), and the Tristram-Levine signatures. Making use of these relationships, the paper concludes with a number of skein-relation style inequalities between the quantities considered earlier in the paper.