The Alexander polynomial and finite type 3-manifold invariants (Q1974130)

In their paper [Topology 37, No. 3, 539-574 (1998; Zbl 0897.57017)], \textit{T. T. Q. Le, J. Murakami} and \textit{T. Ohtsuki} defined a map \(Z^{LMO}(M)\) which associates to every oriented 3-manifold an element of the graded completed Hopf algebra of trivalent graphs. Le showed that the restriction of this map to the class of oriented integral homology 3-spheres is a universal finite type invariant, that is, every rationally-valued finite type invariant factors through it. In the paper under review, the authors exploit elementary counting methods in order to calculate \(Z^{LMO}(M)\), for \(M\) a 3-manifold satisfying \(H_1(M,Z)=Z\), in terms of the Alexander-Conway polynomial of \(M\). They prove also that conversely the Alexander-Conway polynomial can be obtained in terms of \(Z^{LMO}(M)\). In doing so, the authors show that the association which takes a knot in \(S^3\) to the integral homology sphere obtained by framed +1 surgery on that knot induces an injective map from the space of finite type 3-manifold invariants (in the sense of Ohtsuki) of integral homology 3-spheres to the space finite type (Vassiliev) invariants of knots. They show also that weight systems of degree \(2m\) on knots, obtained by applying finite type \(3m\) invariants of integral homology 3-spheres, lie in the algebra of Alexander-Conway weight systems, thus answering positively an open question raised by the first author in 1996.