Skein theoretic approach to Yang-Baxter homology (Q2230900)

Let \(k\) be a ring, \(V\) be a \(k\)-module, and \(V\otimes V\) be the tensor square of \(V\). A linear mapping \(R:V\otimes V\to V\otimes V\) is said to satisfy the Yang-Baxter equation if the following equality of linear maps on \(V\otimes V\otimes V\) holds \[(1\otimes R)(R\otimes 1)(1\otimes R)=(R\otimes 1)(1\otimes R)(R\otimes 1).\] This equality is called the Yang-Baxter equation. It takes its name from independent work of C.~N.~Yang from 1968, and R. J. Baxter from 1971 in the field of statistical mechanics. As an example, let \(k=\mathbb{Q}[y,y^{-1}]\) be the ring of Laurent polynomials with rational coefficients with one variable \(y\), and let \(V\) be the two-dimensional \(k\)-module with the basis \(e_1,e_2\). Denote by \(R\) the linear transformation of \(V\otimes V\) which is given by the following matrix in the basis \(e_1\otimes e_1\), \(e_1\otimes e_2\), \(e_2\otimes e_1\), \(e_2\otimes e_2\) \[\begin{pmatrix} 1&0&0&0\\ 0&1-y^2&1&0\\ 0&y^2&0&0\\ 0&0&0&1 \end{pmatrix}.\] Then \(R\) satisfies the Yang-Baxter equation. This linear transformation \(R\) is called the solution of the Yang-Baxter equation which produces the Jones polynomial. Homology theory for solutions of the Yang-Baxter equations was studied, for example, in [\textit{J. H. Przytycki} and \textit{X. Wang}, J. Knot Theory Ramifications 27, No. 7, Article ID 1841013, 15 p. (2018; Zbl 1398.57019)]. In the same paper the authors state the following conjecture about homology groups of the solution of the Yang-Baxter equation which produces the Jones polynomial (the matrix above). Conjecture. For \(i\geq1\) denote by \(f_i\) the \(i\)-th Fibonacci number, i.~e. \(f_1=f_2=1\), \(f_{i+2}=f_{i+1}+f_i\), by \(s_i\) the partial sum of Fibonacci sequence \[s_i=\sum_{j=1}^{i+1}f_j,\] and by \(a_i\) the number defined by the rule \(a_1=0\), \(2^i=2+a_{i-1}+s_{i-2}+a_i+s_{i-1}\). Then the \(n\)-th homology group of the solution of the Yang-Baxter equation which produces the Jones polynomial is \[H_n=k^2\oplus (k/(1-y^2))^{a_n}\oplus (k/(1-y^4))^s_{n-2}.\] In the paper under review the skein theoretic techniques to compute homology of the solution of the Yang-Baxter equation which produces the Jones polynomial are constructed. These techniques are applied to determine the second and the third homology groups \(H_2,H_3\), confirming the conjecture of Przytycki-Wang for \(n=2,3\).