An odd variant of multiple zeta values

Abstract

For positive integers $i_1,...,i_k$ with $i_1 > 1$, we define the multiple $t$-value $t(i_1,...,i_k)$ as the sum of those terms in the usual infinite series for the multiple zeta value $\zeta(i_1,...,i_k)$ with odd denominators. Like the multiple zeta values, the multiple $t$-values can be multiplied according to the rules of the harmonic algebra. Using this fact, we obtain explicit formulas for multiple $t$-values of repeated arguments analogous to those known for multiple zeta values. Multiple $t$-values can be written as rational linear combinations of the alternating or "colored" multiple zeta values. Using known results for colored multiple zeta values, we obtain tables of multiple $t$-values through weight 7, suggesting some interesting conjectures, including one that the dimension of the rational vector space generated by weight-$n$ multiple $t$-values has dimension equal to the $n$th Fibonacci number. We express the generating function of the height one multiple $t$-values $t(n,1,...,1)$ in terms of a generalized hypergeometric function. We also define alternating multiple $t$-values and prove some results about them.