Chebyshev polynomials and the Frohman-Gelca formula

Abstract

Using Chebyshev polynomials, C. Frohman and R. Gelca introduce a basis of the Kauffman bracket skein module of the torus. This basis is especially useful because the Jones-Kauffman product can be described via a very simple Product-to-Sum formula. Presented in this work is a diagrammatic proof of this formula, which emphasizes and demystifies the role played by Chebyshev polynomials.