Chern-Simons matrix models and Stieltjes-Wigert polynomials

Employing the random matrix formulation of Chern-Simons theory on Seifert manifolds, we show how the Stieltjes-Wigert orthogonal polynomials are useful in exact computations in Chern-Simons matrix models. We construct a biorthogonal extension of the Stieltjes-Wigert polynomials, not available in the literature, necessary to study Chern-Simons matrix models when the geometry is a lens space. We also study the relationship between Stieltjes-Wigert and Rogers-Szego polynomials and the corresponding equivalence with a unitary matrix model. Finally, we give a detailed proof of a result that relates quantum dimensions with averages of Schur polynomials in the Stieltjes-Wigert ensemble. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.