A three-manifold invariant from graph configurations

Abstract

The logarithm of the Kontsevich-Kuperberg-Thurston invariant counts embeddings of connected trivalent graphs in an oriented rational homology sphere, using integrals on configuration spaces of points in the given manifold. It is a universal finite type invariant of oriented rational homology spheres. The exponential of this invariant is often called the perturbative expansion of the Chern-Simons theory. In this article, we give an independent original definition of the degree two part of the logarithm of the Kontsevich-Kuperberg-Thurston invariant appropriate for concrete computations. This article can also serve as an introduction to the general definition of the logarithm of the Kontsevich-Kuperberg-Thurston invariant.