A cubic defining algebra for the Links-Gould polynomial (Q2437553)

The Links-Gould polynomial [\textit{J. R. Links} and \textit{M. D. Gould}, Lett. Math. Phys. 26, No. 3, 187--198 (1992; Zbl 0777.57005)] is a quantum link invariant defined by using a \(1\)-parameter family of \(4\)-dimensional representations \(V(0,\alpha)\) of the quantum superalgebra \(U_q(\mathfrak{gl}(2|1))\). In the paper under review, the authors study the structure of the centralizer algebra \(LG_n= \mathrm{End}_{U_q(\mathfrak{gl}(2|1))}(V(0,\alpha)^{\otimes n})\). First, it is proved that there is a surjective homomorphism \(KB_n\rightarrow LG_n\) from the group algebra \(KB_n\) of the \(n\)-strand braid group \(B_n\) over a certain field \(K\). Thus, the structure of \(LG_n\) is described by the kernel of the above map, whose elements may be thought of as skein relations. The authors define an algebra \(A_n\) as a quotient of \(KB_n\) by a finite set of skein relations, and prove that \(LG_n\cong A_n\) for \(n\leq5\), and conjecture that this isomorphism holds for all \(n\). It is also proved that the map \(B_n\rightarrow LG_n^{\times}\) is injective.