A functional equation for the Lefschetz zeta functions of infinite cyclic coverings with an application to knot theory

Suppose $Y$ is a regular covering of a graph $X$ with covering transformation group $\pi = \mathbb{Z}$. This paper gives an explicit formula for the $L^2$ zeta function of $Y$ and computes examples. When $\pi = \mathbb{Z}$, the $L^2$ zeta function is an algebraic function. As a consequence it extends to a meromorphic function on a Riemann surface. The meromorphic extension provides a setting to generalize known properties of zeta functions of regular graphs, such as the locat...

Let $K$ be a tame knot embedded in $\mathbf{S}^3$. We address the problem of finding the minimal degree non-cyclic cover $p:X \rightarrow \mathbf{S}^3 \smallsetminus K$. When $K$ has non-trivial Alexander polynomial we construct finite non-abelian representations $\rho:\pi_1\left(\mathbf{S}^3 \smallsetminus K\right) \rightarrow G$, and provide bounds for the order of $G$ in terms of the crossing number of $K$ which is an improvement on a result of Broaddus in this case. Using...

In this paper we show that the twisted Alexander polynomial associated to a parabolic representation determines fiberedness and genus of a wide class of 2-bridge knots. As a corollary we give an affirmative answer to a conjecture of Dunfield, Friedl and Jackson for infinitely many hyperbolic knots.

For a fibered knot in the 3-sphere the twisted Alexander polynomial associated to an SL(2,C)-character is known to be monic. It is conjectured that for a nonfibered knot there is a curve component of the SL(2,C)-character variety containing only finitely many characters whose twisted Alexander polynomials are monic, i.e. finiteness of such characters detects fiberedness of knots. In this paper we discuss the existence of a certain curve component which relates to the conjectu...

This note uses some recent calculations of Conder and Bujalance (on classifying finite index group extensions of Fuchsian groups with abelian quotient and torsion free kernel) in order to determine the full automorphism groups of some cylic coverings of the line (including curves of Fermat and Lefschetz type). The answer is complete for cyclic covers that branch over three points.

We generalize to higher algebraic $K$-theory an identity (originally due to Milnor) that relates the Reidemeister torsion of an infinite cyclic cover to its Lefschetz zeta function. Our identity involves a higher torsion invariant, the endomorphism torsion, of a parametrized family of endomorphisms as well as a higher zeta function of such a family. We also exhibit several examples of families of endomorphisms having non-trivial endomorphism torsion.

It is well-known that the Artin-Mazur dynamical zeta function of a hyperbolic or quasi-hyperbolic toral automorphism is a rational function, which can be calculated in terms of the eigenvalues of the corresponding integer matrix. We give an elementary proof of this fact that extends to the case of general toral endomorphisms without change. The result is a closed formula that can be calculated by integer arithmetic only. We also address the functional equation and the relatio...

This is an expository paper which gives a simple arithmetic introduction to the conjectures of Weil and Dwork concerning zeta functions of algebraic varieties over finite fields. A number of further open questions are raised.

In 1971, Kunio Murasugi proved a necessary condition on a knot's Alexander polynomial for that knot to be periodic of prime power order. In this paper I present an alternate proof of Murasugi's condition which is subsequently used to extend his result to the twisted Alexander polynomial.

Our aim of this and subsequent papers is to enlighten (a part of, presumably) arithmetic structures of knots. This paper introduces a notion of profinite knots which extends topological knots and shows its various basic properties. Particularly an action of the absolute Galois group of the rational number field on profinite knots is rigorously established, which is attained by our extending the action of Drinfeld's Grothendieck-Teichm\"{u}ller group on profinite braid groups ...