Torsion, as a Function on the Space of Representations

Abstract

Riemannian Geometry, Topology and Dynamics permit to introduce partially defined holomorphic functions on the variety of representations of the fundamental group of a manifold. The functions we consider are the complex-valued Ray-Singer torsion, the Milnor-Turaev torsion, and the dynamical torsion. They are associated essentially to a closed smooth manifold equipped with a (co)Euler structure and a Riemannian metric in the first case, a smooth triangulation in the second case, and a smooth flow of type described in Section 2 in the third case. In this paper we define these functions, describe some of their properties and calculate them in some case. We conjecture that they are essentially equal and have analytic continuation to rational functions on the variety of representations. We discuss what we know to be true. As particular cases of our torsion, we recognize familiar rational functions in topology such as the Lefschetz zeta function of a diffeomorphism, the dynamical zeta function of closed trajectories, and the Alexander polynomial of a knot. A numerical invariant derived from Ray-Singer torsion and associated to two homotopic acyclic representations is discussed in the last section.

Part of this work was done while both authors enjoyed the hospitality of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn. A previous version was written while the second author enjoyed the hospitality of the Ohio State University. The second author was partially supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Austrian Science Fund), project number P17108-N04.