On a universal perturbative invariant of 3-manifolds (Q1384306)

A sketch of the main idea of the construction of the invariant is given in the introduction of this carefully written and impressive paper. ``Using finite type invariants (or Vassiliev invariants) of framed links and the Kirby calculus, we construct an invariant of closed oriented three-dimensional manifolds with values in a graded Hopf algebra of certain kinds of 3-valent graphs (of Feynman diagrams). The degree 1 part of the invariant is essentially the Casson-Lescop-Walker invariant of 3-manifolds. A generalization for links in 3-manifolds is also given.'' ``The theory of this invariant can be regarded as a mathematically rigorous realization of part of Witten's theory of quantum invariants. For a 3-manifold \(M\), a compact Lie group \(G\), and an integer \(k\), Witten claimed that a certain kind of Feynman path integral \(Z_k(M, G)\) (the quantum \(G\) invariant of \(M\)), integrated over all \(G\)-connections \(A\) and involving the Chern-Simons functional \(CS(A)\), is a topological invariant of the 3-manifold \(M\). So far, there is still no rigorous method to regularize the path integral.'' ``There are two approaches to Witten's quantum invariants: perturbative and non-perturbative. In the perturbative approach, first one uses formal perturbation theory to derive an asymptotic formula for \(Z_k(M, G)\) for large \(k\) limit; then one tries to define mathematically the coefficients of the asymptotic formula. In the non-perturbative approach, which was initiated by the work of Reshetikhin and Turaev at almost the same time as Witten's work, a precise value of the quantum invariant \(Z_k(M, G)\) is defined, but one does not regularize the path integral. Instead of path integrals one uses finite linear combinations of quantum invariants of links (and the Kirby calculus). The non-perturbative theory involves deep considerations in modular Hopf algebras, quantum groups at roots of unity, etc.'' ``Here, instead of quantum invariants of links we use finite type (or Vassiliev) invariants of links. More precisely, we use a modification of the Kontsevich integral which is a universal Vassiliev invariant of framed links. There is no root of unity in the construction. The computation of our invariant is combinatorial and straightforward.'' ``Using Drinfeld's theory of quasi-Hopf algebras Kontsevich defined his famous knot invariant, expressed by iterated integrals. The Kontsevich integral can be regarded as perturbative invariants of links; and our invariant of 3-manifolds can be regarded as the perturbative invariant which corresponds to the trivial connection''.