On Perturbative PSU(n) Invariants of Rational Homology 3-Spheres

Abstract

We construct power series invariants of rational homology 3-spheres from quantum PSU(n)-invariants. The power series can be regarded as perturbative invariants corresponding to the contribution of the trivial connection in the hypothetical Witten's integral. This generalizes a result of Ohtsuki (the $n=2$ case) which led him to the definition of finite type invariants of 3-manifolds. The proof utilizes some symmetry properties of quantum invariants (of links) derived from the theory of affine Lie algebras and the theory of the Kontsevich integral.

36 Pages. Minor mistakes corrected. Main results slightly improved. Some parts substantially revised