Quid of the Jones polynomial
A knot is a closed curve in 3d space. The basic problem in knot theory is to say whether two given knots can be deformed one into another. Knot invariants are efficient tools to answer this question : to each knot they associate an algebraic quantity (usually a polynomial) which is invariant under deformation. In this talk I will explain the most famous knot invariant : the Jones polynomial (Fields medal 1990). I will also discuss its relations with Quantum Groups. No preliminary is required beyond linear algebra!
