Alexander-polynomial formula for the proper Abelian BF knot observable

Let KK be a knot, let λ\lambda be the coupling parameter, and let \bigcirc denote the unknot. Let Δ(K;z)\Delta(K;z) be the Alexander polynomial evaluated at zz, and set

z(λ)=2isin(λ/2).z(\lambda)=2i\sin(\lambda/2).

Let O[K,λ]{\cal O}[K,\lambda] be the proper solution whose vacuum expectation value is ambient-isotopy invariant. Alexander-polynomial conjecture. Its normalized vacuum expectation value satisfies

O[K,λ]λO[,λ]λ=1Δ(K;z(λ)).\frac{\left\langle{\cal O}[K,\lambda]\right\rangle_\lambda}{\left\langle{\cal O}[\bigcirc,\lambda]\right\rangle_\lambda}=\frac{1}{\Delta(K;z(\lambda))}.

This identifies the normalized Abelian BF observable with the inverse Alexander polynomial, extending the classical observable's expected knot-invariant formula to the quantum setting.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Alberto S. Cattaneo, “Abelian BF Theories and Knot Invariants”, arXiv:hep-th/9609205 (1997).

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