$\widehat{Z}$ at large $N$: from curve counts to quantum modularity

TL;DR

This paper investigates the large-N behavior of a 3-manifold invariant derived from 6d theories, connecting it to knot polynomials, enumerative geometry, and quantum modularity, revealing new mathematical structures and deformations.

Contribution

It provides a new enumerative interpretation of the invariant, explicit formulas for certain knots, and explores its relation to quantum modularity and categorification.

Findings

Enumerative interpretation of $\, ext{F}_K$ via holomorphic curves

Closed form expressions for $(2,2p+1)$-torus knots

Indications of quantum modularity in the invariant's transformations

Abstract

Reducing a 6d fivebrane theory on a 3-manifold $Y$ gives a $q$-series 3-manifold invariant $\widehat{Z}(Y)$. We analyse the large-$N$ behaviour of $F_K=\widehat{Z}(M_K)$, where $M_K$ is the complement of a knot $K$ in the 3-sphere, and explore the relationship between an $a$-deformed ($a=q^N$) version of $F_{K}$ and HOMFLY-PT polynomials. On the one hand, in combination with counts of holomorphic annuli on knot complements, this gives an enumerative interpretation of $F_K$ in terms of counts of open holomorphic curves. On the other, it leads to closed form expressions for $a$-deformed $F_K$ for $(2,2p+1)$-torus knots. They suggest a further $t$-deformation based on superpolynomials, which can be used to obtain a $t$-deformation of ADO polynomials, expected to be related to categorification. Moreover, studying how $F_K$ transforms under natural geometric operations on $K$ indicates relations to quantum modularity in a new setting.