On zeros of the Alexander polynomial of an alternating knot (Q649832)

The paper concerns the real part of zeros of the Alexander polynomial, and it is motivated in part by a conjecture of Jim Hoste, stating that the real part of any zero of the Alexander polynomial of an alternating knot is greater than \(-1\). The question about real parts of zeros of the Alexander polynomial is reformulated in terms of the eigenvalues of the ``companion'' matrix \(U^{-1} U^{T}\) where \(U\) is a Seifert matrix of a given knot. The authors then apply Lyapunov's theorem, often used to analyze stability of solutions of ordinary linear differential equations, which provides a criterion for when all eigenvalues of a matrix have negative real parts. The authors apply the approach summarized above to analyze in detail the case of two-bridge knots (the approach seems powerful and useful in greater generality). Specifically, they prove that any zero \(\alpha\) of the Alexander polynomial of a two-bridge knot satisfies \(-3 < Re ({\alpha}) < 6\). A number of other results on two-bridge knots are established, including the proof of Hoste's conjecture for a large class of two-bridge knots. The paper concludes with a list of interesting open questions about zeros of the Alexander polynomials of knots.