Knot homology and refined Chern-Simons index (Q2514195)

The Jones and HOMFLY polynomials, invariants of knots in \(S^3\) defined using two-dimensional projections and invariance under Reidemeister moves, can be heuristically re-defined by physicists using the Chern-Simons path integral over the space of connections in the trivial principal \(\mathrm{SU}(n)\) bundle. The integrality of their coefficients follows from Khovanov's construction of a bigraded knot cohomology theory associated to each knot; the Euler characteristic of Khovanov's cohomology with respect to one grading yields the Jones polynomial, hence proving its integrality. In this paper, the authors define a \(\mathrm{SU}(n)\) Chern-Simons theory on every \(3\)-manifold with a semi-free circle action. They obtain new topological invariants of Seifert fibered \(3\)-manifolds and of torus knots inside such manifolds. Their results are viewed as evidence for a conjecture of \textit{S. Gukov} et al. [Lett. Math. Phys. 74, No. 1, 53--74 (2005; Zbl 1105.57011)] about \(\mathrm{SL}_n\) knot homology.