Cyclotomic expansion of generalized Jones polynomials (Q829952)

Let \(J_n^K(q)\) denote the the \(n\)th colored Jones polynomial of a knot \(K\) in the 3-sphere \(S^3\). Note that \(J_2^K(q)/J_2^U(q)\) is the ordinary Jones polynomial. In the paper under review, the authors introduce a generalization \(J_n^K(q,t_1,t_2) \in \mathbb{C}[q^{\pm 1}, t_1^{\pm 1}, t_2^{\pm 1}]\) which recovers \(J_n^K(q)\) when \(t_1=t_2=1\). This invariant is defined for a knot \(K\) satisfying a conjecture proposed in [\textit{Y. Berest} and \textit{P. Samuelson}, Compos. Math. 152(7), 1333--1384 (2016; Zbl 1356.57006)]. Their conjecture is about the Kauffman bracket skein module of \(S^3\setminus K\) and a double affine Hecke algebra depending on three parameters \(q\), \(t_1\), \(t_2\), which is known to be true for torus knots and some 2-bridge knots for instance. The main result is Theorem~1.2 which gives a formula for \(J_n^K(q,t_1,t_2)\) as a generalization of the cyclotomic expansion of \(J_n^K(q)\) due to \textit{K. Habiro} [Invent. Math. 171(1), 1--81 (2008; Zbl 1144.57006)]. It is worth mentioning that this expression makes sense independently of the conjecture, and thus Theorem~1.2 can be regarded as a supporting evidence for the conjecture. As a consequence of this formula and Habiro's result, the authors obtain Corollary~1.3: \(J_n^K(q,t_1,t_2)\) lies in \(\mathbb{Z}[q^{\pm 1}, t_1^{\pm 1}, t_2^{\pm 1}]\). Also, the authors provide an interpretation of their invariant in terms of quantum groups. Precisely, in Theorem~1.6, they express \(J_n^K(q,t_1,t_2)\) via the quantum trace map and the universal \(\mathfrak{sl}_2\) invariant \(J^K\). Furthermore, the authors pose a question about the asymptotic behavior of \(J_n^K(e^{\pi i/2n},t_1,t_2)\) related to the volume conjecture.