A note on Morton's conjecture concerning the lowest degree of a 2- variable knot polynomial (Q689737)

Write the homfly polynomial \(P_ L(v,z)\) of a link \(L\) as \[ P_ L(v,z) = a_ e(z)v^ e + a_ s(z)v^ s + \sum^ E_{s + 1 \leq i} a_ i(z)v^ i, \] where \(a_ e(z) \neq 0 \neq a_ s(z)\) and \(e < s\). Morton's conjecture states \[ e \leq 1 - \chi(L),\tag{*} \] where \(\chi(L)\) is the maximal Euler characteristic over all orientable surfaces spanning \(L\). In his previous paper [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 39, No. 3, 535-552 (1989; Zbl 0685.57004)], the author proved (*) for homogeneous links. But in this short note, the author shows that using pretzel knots of type \((3,-3,2a)\), the gap \(s - e\) can be made as large as we please, where \(A\) is any natural number. Therefore, \(s\) can easily be larger than \(1 - \chi(L)\) and only the isolated term \(a_ e(z)\) could save the conjecture. A similar phenomenon for the \(z\)-degree of \(P_ L(v,z)\) has already been observed by A. Kawauchi.