No label defined (Q4400526)

This paper is an introduction to the relationship between Penrose spin networks and structures in physics and low dimensional topology. The paper is organized as follows. Section 2 discusses the theme of networks and discretization. Section 3 introduces the bracket model for the Jones polynomial invariant of knots and links. In Section 4 the author shows how the bracket state model is a natural generalization of the original Penrose spin networks, and how this model is related to the quantum group corresponding to \(SL(2, \mathbb{C})\). In particular, he shows how the binor identity of the spin networks, the skein identity of the bracket polynomial (at a special value) and the trace identity \(\text{tr} (AB)+ \text{tr} (AB^{-1})= \text{tr}(A) \text{tr} (B)\) of \(SL(2, \mathbb{C})\) are really all the same. The section continues with a discussion of the role of these generalized networks in low dimensional topology. In particular, the author discusses the relationship of these nets with the evaluation of the Witte-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant of 3-manifolds and corresponding relations with quantum gravity theories (Regge-Ponzano in \(2+1\) and Ashtekar-Smolin-Rovelli in \(3+1)\). For the entire collection see [Zbl 0890.00046].