Special values of multiple polylogarithms

DOI10.1090/S0002-9947-00-02616-7MaRDI QIDQ4523172zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Jonathan M. Borwein, Petr Lisoněk, David M. Bradley, David J. Broadhurst

Publication date 8 January 2001

Published in Transactions of the American Mathematical Society (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/math/9910045

Euler sums integral representations multiple harmonic series multiple polylogarithm multiple zeta value reduction Riemann zeta-function shuffles stuffles

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Combinatorial identities, bijective combinatorics (05A19) Polylogarithms and relations with (K)-theory (11G55) Multiple Dirichlet series and zeta functions and multizeta values (11M32) Evaluation of number-theoretic constants (11Y60) Higher logarithm functions (33B30) Other functions defined by series and integrals (33E20)

Abstract: Historically, the polylogarithm has attracted specialists and non-specialists alike with its lovely evaluations. Much the same can be said for Euler sums (or multiple harmonic sums), which, within the past decade, have arisen in combinatorics, knot theory and high-energy physics. More recently, we have been forced to consider multidimensional extensions encompassing the classical polylogarithm, Euler sums, and the Riemann zeta function. Here, we provide a general framework within which previously isolated results can now be properly understood. Applying the theory developed herein, we prove several previously conjectured evaluations, including an intriguing conjecture of Don Zagier.

Review text

This long and elegant paper would have delighted Euler, and he might even have been surprised at the comprehensive generalizations of some of his better known evaluations. The multiple polylogarithm studied here is defined by \[ \lambda \binom {s_1,\dots, s_k}{b_1,\dots, b_k}:= \sum_{\nu_1,\dots, \nu_k=1}^\infty \prod_{j=1}^k b_j^{-\nu_j} \Biggl( \sum_{i=j}^k \nu_i\Biggr)^{-s_j}, \] which reduces to the classical polylogarithm when \(k=1\), and to the Riemann zeta-function when also \(b=1\). Using the multiple polylogarithm, a number of previously isolated results can be brought together into a coherent framework, as well as providing proofs of several previously conjectured evaluations. In recognition of the Riemann \(\zeta\)-function connection, the multiple polylogarithm in the case where \(b_j=1\) \((j=1,\dots, k)\) is denoted by \(\zeta(s_1,\dots, s_k):= \lambda\binom {s_1,\dots, s_k} {1,\dots, 1}\), and the symbol \(\{s_1,\dots, s_r\}^n\) denotes the string \(s_1,\dots, s_r\) repeated \(n\) times. Thus, for example, the \[ \zeta(\{2\}^n):= \sum_{\nu_1,\dots, \nu_n=1}^\infty \prod_{j=1}^n (\nu_j+\dots +\nu_n)^{-2}= \pi^{2n}/ (2n+1)! \] generalizes Euler's famous result \(\zeta(2):= \sum_{\nu=1}^\infty \nu^2= \pi^2/6\), while a previous conjecture of Don Zagier, that \[ \zeta(\{3,1\}^n)= 4^{-n} \zeta(\{4\}^n)= 2\pi^{4n}/ (4n+2)!, \] is proved as a corollary of Theorem 11.1, in which a generating function involving polylogarithm coefficients is evaluated as a product of two \({}_2F_1\) hypergeometric functions. The result \(\zeta(\{3,1\}^n)= 4^{-n} \zeta(\{4\}^n)\) just quoted, is an example of a ``multiple zeta value (MZV) reduction, and \S 3 of the paper is devoted to studying more general MZV reductions. Another section (\S 4) deals with integral representations involving polylogarithms, while \S 5 concerns ``shuffles and stuffles, studying the combinatorics of the behaviour of multiple polylogarithms with respect to their argument strings. Indeed, it is difficult in a short review to give adequate expressions to the wealth of ideas presented: this is a fascinating paper which is enhanced by the very comprehensive bibliography of 69 items relating to the subject.

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