Three-manifold quantum invariants and mock theta functions

Abstract

Mock modular forms have found applications in numerous branches of mathematical sciences since they were first introduced by Ramanujan nearly a century ago. In this proceeding, we highlight a new area where mock modular forms start to play an important role, namely the study of three-manifold invariants. For a certain class of Seifert three-manifolds, we describe a conjecture on the mock modular properties of a recently proposed quantum invariant. As an illustration, we include concrete computations for a specific three-manifold, the Brieskorn sphere Σ(2, 3, 7). This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Srinivasa Ramanujan: in celebration of the centenary of his election as FRS’.