Meridian twisting of closed braids and the Homfly polynomial

Abstract

Let $β$ be a braid on $n$ strands, with exponent sum $w$. Let $Δ$ be the Garside half-twist braid. We prove that the coefficient of $v^{w-n+1}$ in the Homfly polynomial of the closure of $β$ agrees with $(-1)^{n-1}$ times the coefficient of $v^{w+n^2-1}$ in the Homfly polynomial of the closure of $βΔ^2$. This coincidence implies that the lower Morton--Franks-Williams estimate for the $v$--degree of the Homfly polynomial of $\hatβ$ is sharp if and only if the upper MFW estimate is sharp for the $v$--degree of the Homfly polynomial of $\hat{βΔ^2}$.