This dissertation studies the colored Jones polynomial of knots and links, colored by representations of simple Lie algebras, and the stability of its coefficients. Chapter 1 provides an explicit formula for the second plethysm of an arbitrary representation of sl3. This allows for an explicit formula for the colored Jones polynomial of the trefoil, and more generally, for T(2,n) torus knots. This formula for the sl3 colored Jones polynomial of T(2,n)$ torus knots makes it possible to verify the Degree Conjecture for those knots, to efficiently compute the sl3 Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants of the Poincare sphere, and to guess a Groebner basis for the recursion ideal of the sl3 colored Jones polynomial of the trefoil. Chapter 2 gives a formulation of a stability conjecture for the coefficients of the colored Jones polynomial of a knot, colored by irreducible representations in a fixed ray of a simple Lie algebra. The conjecture is verified for all torus knots and all simple Lie algebras of rank 2. Chapter 3 supplies an efficient method to compute those q-series that come from planar graphs (i.e., reduced Tait graphs of alternating links) and compute several terms of those series for all graphs with at most 8 edges. In addition, a graph-theory proof of a theorem of Dasbach-Lin which identifies the coefficient of q^k in those series for k=0,1,2 in terms of polynomials on the number of vertices, edges and triangles of the graph is given. Chapter 4 provides a study of the structure of the stable coefficients of the Jones polynomial of an alternating link.The first four stable coefficients are identified with polynomial invariants of a (reduced) Tait graph of the link projection. A free polynomial algebra of invariants of graphs whose elements give invariants of alternating links is introduced which strictly refines the first four stable coefficients. It is conjectured that all stable coefficients are elements of this algebra, and experimental evidence for the fifth and sixth stable coefficient is given. The results are illustrated in tables of all alternating links with at most 10 crossings and all irreducible planar graphs with at most 6 vertices.

We give an overview of recent progress in the research of hypergraph jumps -- a problem from extremal combinatorics. The number $\alpha \in [0, 1)$ is a jump for $r$ if for any $\epsilon > 0$ and any integer $m \ge r$ any $r$-graph with $N > N(\epsilon, m)$ vertices and at least $(\alpha + \epsilon) {N \choose r}$ edges contains a subgraph with $m$ vertices and at least $(\alpha + c) {m \choose r}$ edges, where $c := c(\alpha)$ does depend only on $\alpha$. Baber and Talbot \cite{Baber} recently gave first examples of jumps for $r = 3$ in the interval $[2/9, 1)$. Their result uses the framework of flag algebras \cite{Raz07} and involves solving a semidefinite optimization problem. A software implementation of their method is a part of this work.

Alexander A. Razborov (2007) developed the theory of flag algebras to compute the minimum asymptotic density of triangles in a graph as a function of its edge density. The theory of flag algebras, however, can be used to study the asymptotic density of several combinatorial objects. In this dissertation, we present two original results obtained in the theory of tournaments through application of flag algebra proof techniques. The first result concerns minimization of the asymptotic density of transitive tournaments in a sequence of tournaments, which we prove to occur if and only if the sequence is quasi-random. As a byproduct, we also obtain new quasi-random characterizations and several other flag algebra elements whose density is minimized if and only if the sequence is quasi-random. The second result concerns a class of equivalent properties of a sequence of tournaments that we call quasi-carousel properties and that, in a similar fashion as quasi-random properties, force the sequence to converge to a specific limit homomorphism. Several quasi-carousel properties, when compared to quasi-random properties, suggest that quasi-random sequences and quasi-carousel sequences are the furthest possible from each other within the class of almost balanced sequences. / Alexander A. Razborov (2007) desenvolveu a teoria de álgebras de flags para calcular a densidade assintótica mínima de triângulos em um grafo em função de sua densidade de arestas. A teoria das álgebras de flags, contudo, pode ser usada para estudar densidades assintóticas de diversos objetos combinatórios. Nesta dissertação, apresentamos dois resultados originais obtidos na teoria de torneios através de técnicas de demonstração de álgebras de flags. O primeiro resultado compreende a minimização da densidade assintótica de torneios transitivos em uma sequência de torneios, a qual provamos ocorrer se e somente se a sequência é quase aleatória. Como subprodutos, obtemos também novas caracterizações de quase aleatoriedade e diversos outros elementos da álgebra de flags cuja densidade é minimizada se e somente se a sequência é quase aleatória. O segundo resultado compreende uma classe de propriedades equivalentes sobre uma sequência de torneios que chamamos de propriedades quase carrossel e que, de uma forma similar às propriedades quase aleatórias, forçam que a sequência convirja para um homomorfismo limite específico. Várias propriedades quase carrossel, quando comparadas às propriedades quase aleatórias, sugerem que sequências quase aleatórias e sequências quase carrossel estão o mais distantes possível umas das outras na classe de sequências quase balanceadas.

Alexander A. Razborov (2007) developed the theory of flag algebras to compute the minimum asymptotic density of triangles in a graph as a function of its edge density. The theory of flag algebras, however, can be used to study the asymptotic density of several combinatorial objects. In this dissertation, we present two original results obtained in the theory of tournaments through application of flag algebra proof techniques. The first result concerns minimization of the asymptotic density of transitive tournaments in a sequence of tournaments, which we prove to occur if and only if the sequence is quasi-random. As a byproduct, we also obtain new quasi-random characterizations and several other flag algebra elements whose density is minimized if and only if the sequence is quasi-random. The second result concerns a class of equivalent properties of a sequence of tournaments that we call quasi-carousel properties and that, in a similar fashion as quasi-random properties, force the sequence to converge to a specific limit homomorphism. Several quasi-carousel properties, when compared to quasi-random properties, suggest that quasi-random sequences and quasi-carousel sequences are the furthest possible from each other within the class of almost balanced sequences. / Alexander A. Razborov (2007) desenvolveu a teoria de álgebras de flags para calcular a densidade assintótica mínima de triângulos em um grafo em função de sua densidade de arestas. A teoria das álgebras de flags, contudo, pode ser usada para estudar densidades assintóticas de diversos objetos combinatórios. Nesta dissertação, apresentamos dois resultados originais obtidos na teoria de torneios através de técnicas de demonstração de álgebras de flags. O primeiro resultado compreende a minimização da densidade assintótica de torneios transitivos em uma sequência de torneios, a qual provamos ocorrer se e somente se a sequência é quase aleatória. Como subprodutos, obtemos também novas caracterizações de quase aleatoriedade e diversos outros elementos da álgebra de flags cuja densidade é minimizada se e somente se a sequência é quase aleatória. O segundo resultado compreende uma classe de propriedades equivalentes sobre uma sequência de torneios que chamamos de propriedades quase carrossel e que, de uma forma similar às propriedades quase aleatórias, forçam que a sequência convirja para um homomorfismo limite específico. Várias propriedades quase carrossel, quando comparadas às propriedades quase aleatórias, sugerem que sequências quase aleatórias e sequências quase carrossel estão o mais distantes possível umas das outras na classe de sequências quase balanceadas.