A three-block symmetry conjecture for multiple zeta values

Let a1,a2,a3,b1,b2a_1,a_2,a_3,b_1,b_2 be non-negative integers, and let ZZ denote the multiple zeta values defined by

Z(m0,,m2n)=ζ(2m0,3,2m1,1,,3,2m2n1,1,2m2n).Z(m_0,\ldots,m_{2n})=\zeta(\\{2\\}^{m_0},3,\\{2\\}^{m_1},1,\ldots,3,\\{2\\}^{m_{2n-1}},1,\\{2\\}^{m_{2n}}).

Three-block symmetry conjecture. For any non-negative integers a1,a2,a3,b1,b2a_1,a_2,a_3,b_1,b_2,

Z(a1,b1,a2,b2,a3)+Z(a2,b1,a3,b2,a1)+Z(a3,b1,a1,b2,a2)=Z(a1,b2,a2,b1,a3)+Z(a2,b2,a3,b1,a1)+Z(a3,b2,a1,b1,a2).\begin{aligned} &Z(a_1,b_1,a_2,b_2,a_3)+Z(a_2,b_1,a_3,b_2,a_1)+Z(a_3,b_1,a_1,b_2,a_2)\\\\ &=Z(a_1,b_2,a_2,b_1,a_3)+Z(a_2,b_2,a_3,b_1,a_1)+Z(a_3,b_2,a_1,b_1,a_2). \end{aligned}

This is presented as a family of identities outside the cyclic scheme, supported by extensive numerical evidence. Its general validity remains open.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

J. M. Borwein, D. M. Bradley, D. J. Broadhurst and P. Lisonek, “Combinatorial aspects of multiple zeta values”, arXiv:math/9812020 (1998).

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