Hiroaki Karuo

In the paper, we show some properties of (reduced) stated SL($n$)-skein algebras related to their centers for essentially bordered pb surfaces, especially their centers, finitely generation over their centers, and their PI-degrees. The proofs are based on the quantum trace maps, embeddings of (reduced) stated SL($n$)-skein algebras into quantum tori appearing in higher Teichmüller theory. Thanks to the Unicity theorem in [BG02, FKBL19], we can understand the representation theory of (reduced) stated SL($n$)-skein algebras. Moreover, the applications are beyond low-dimensional topology. For example, we can access to the representation theory of unrestricted quantum moduli algebras, and that of quantum higher cluster algebras potentially.

We introduce a joint generalization, called LRY skein algebras, of Kauffman bracket skein algebras (of surfaces) that encompasses both Roger-Yang skein algebras and stated skein algebras. We will show that, over an arbitrary ground ring which is a commutative domain, the LRY skein algebras are domains and have degenerations (by filtrations) equal to monomial subalgebras of quantum tori. This integrality answers a question of Roger-Yang for the most general ground ring. We also calculate the Gelfand-Kirillov dimension of LRY algebras and show they are Noetherian if the ground ring is. Moreover they are orderly finitely generated. To study the LRY algebras and prove the above-mentioned results, we construct quantum traces, both the so-called X-version for all surfaces and also an A-version for a smaller class of surfaces. We also introduce a modified version of Dehn-Thurston coordinates for curves which are more suitable for the study of skein algebras as they pick up the highest degree terms of products in certain natural filtrations.

We generalize the quantum duality map $\mathbb{I}_{\mathcal{A } }$ of Allegretti--Kim [AK17] for punctured closed surfaces to general marked surfaces. When the marked surface has no interior marked points, we investigate its compatibility with the quantum duality map $\mathbb{I}_{\mathcal{A } }$ on the dual side based on the quantum bracelets basis [Thu14, MQ23]. Our construction factors through reduced stated skein algebras, based on the quantum trace maps [Lê18] together with an appropriate way of \emph{skein lifting} of integral $\mathcal{A}$-laminations. We also give skein theoretic proofs for some expected properties of Laurent expressions, and positivity of structure constants for marked disks and a marked annulus.

We study a generalized Witten's finiteness conjecture for the skein modules of oriented compact 3-manifolds with boundary. We formulate an equivalent version of the generalized finiteness conjecture using handlebodies and 2-handles, and prove the conjecture for some classes with the handlebodies of genus 2 and 3 using the equivalent version.