Relationships between multiple zeta values of depths 2 and 3 and period polynomials (Q2040196)

Multiple zeta values play important roles in many branches of math and physics in recent years. They are defined by \[ \zeta(k_1,\ldots,k_r) = \sum_{0<m_1<\cdots<m_r} \frac{1}{m_1^{k_1}\cdots m_r^{k_r}}, \] for integers \(k_1,\ldots,k_{r-1}\ge1\) and \(k_r\ge2\). Here \(k_1+\cdots+k_r\) is called the weight and \(r\) the depth. For depth 2, the authors show a result connecting even period polynomials of cusp forms and linear relations among \(\zeta(odd,odd)\)'s. In depth 3, they provide some similar but indirect connections. To state their result, we need some additional notation. Let \(\delta{\tbinom{m_1,\ldots,m_r}{n_1,\ldots,n_r}}\) be the Kronecker delta defined by \[ \delta{\tbinom{m_1,\ldots,m_r}{n_1,\ldots,n_r}}= \begin{cases} 1 & \mbox{if \(m_i=n_i\) for all \(i\in \{ 1,\ldots,r\}\)}\\ 0 & \mbox{otherwise} \end{cases} \] with \(\delta(\varnothing)=1\). For \(n,n'\in {\mathbb Z}\) and \(m\in{\mathbb Z}_{\ge1}\) define \[ b_{n,n'}^{m}=(-1)^{n}\binom{m-1}{n-1}+(-1)^{n'-m} \binom{m-1}{n'-1}, \] where \(\binom{m}{n}=0\) for \(n<0\) and for \(m<n\). For \((m_1,\ldots,m_r)\in{\mathbb N}^r\) and \((n_1,\ldots,n_r)\in{\mathbb N}^r\), define \[ e{\tbinom{m_1,\ldots,m_r}{n_1,\ldots,n_r}}= \delta{\tbinom{m_1,\ldots,m_r}{n_1,\ldots,n_r}}+ \sum_{i=1}^{r-1} \delta{\tbinom{m_2,\ldots,m_i,m_{i+2},\ldots,m_r}{n_1,\ldots,n_{i-1},n_{i+2},\ldots,n_r}} b_{n_{i},n_{i+1}}^{m_1} \in {\mathbb Z}. \] Let \(N,m_1,m_2,m_3,n_1,n_2,n_3\in{\mathbb N}\) such that \(N=m_1+m_2+m_3=n_1+n_2+n_3\), \(m_1,m_2\ge3\) odd and \(m_3\ge2\). Define \[ c\tbinom{m_1,m_2,m_3}{n_1,n_2,n_3} = \sum_{\substack{k_1+k_2+k_3=N\\ k_1,k_2,k_3\ge1}} \delta\tbinom{m_1}{k_1}e\tbinom{m_2,m_3}{k_2,k_3} e\tbinom{k_1,k_2,k_3}{n_1,n_2,n_3} \in{\mathbb Z}. \] For \(1\le j\le 3\) set \[ {\mathbb I}_k^{(j)}=\{ (k_1,k_2,k_3)\in{\mathbb Z}_{\ge2}^3\mid k_1+k_2+k_3=k, k_j:\text{ even}, k_i:\text{ odd } i\neq j\}. \] Let \(d_k\) be the number of elements in \({\mathbb I}_k^{(j)}\), which is independent of \(j\). We define the \(d_k\times d_k\) matrix \[ C_k^{(j)} = \left( c\tbinom{\mathbf{m}}{\mathbf n} \right)_{ {\mathbf m} \in {\mathbb I}_k^{(3)},\ {\mathbf n} \in {\mathbb I}_k^{(j)} }. \] Define the \({\mathbb Q}\)-vector space of restricted even period polynomials \(W_k^{+,0}\subset{\mathbb Q}[x_1,x_2]\) as the space generated by of homogeneous degree \(k-2\) polynomials \(p(x)\) such that \[ p(x_1,x_2)=p(-x_1,x_2), \ p(x_1,0)=0, \ p(x_1,x_2)-p(x_1+x_2,x_2)+p(x_1+x_2,x_1)=0. \] Let \(P_k^{+}\) be the \({\mathbb Q}\)-vector space generated by the polynomials \[ p(x_1,x_2)x_3^{k-n-1} \quad (p(x_1,x_2)\in W^{+,0}_n ,\ 0< n < k ). \] Theorem. (Theorem 4.2) For \(1\le j\le 3\) and even \(k\), the map \begin{align*} P_k^{+} &\longrightarrow \ker C_k^{(j)}\\ \sum_{{\mathbf n}\in {\mathbb I}_k^{(3)}} a_{\mathbf n}{\mathbf x}^{\mathbf n}&\longmapsto (a_{\mathbf n})_{{\mathbf n}\in {\mathbb I}_k^{(3)}} \end{align*} is well-defined and injective, where we write \({\mathbf x}^{\mathbf n}=x_1^{n_1-1}x_2^{n_2-1}x_3^{n_3-1}\) for \({\mathbf n} =(n_1,n_2,n_3)\). Namely, the row vector obtained from coefficients of \(p\in P_k^+\) gives a left annihilator of the matrix \(C_k^{(j)}\). The authors also prove other similar results in depth 3 which yield indirect connections between period polynomials and linear relations among almost totally odd triple zeta values \(\zeta(odd,odd,even)\), \(\zeta(odd,even,odd)\) and \(\zeta(even,odd,odd)\). The proofs rely heavily on the theory of motivic multiple zeta values developed by \textit{F. C. S. Brown} in the two articles [Adv. Stud. Pure Math. 63, 31--58 (2012; Zbl 1321.11087); Ann. Math. (2) 175, No. 2, 949--976 (2012; Zbl 1278.19008)].