Ray-Singer Torsion, Topological field theories and the Riemann zeta function at s=3

Abstract

Starting with topological field theories we investigate the Ray-Singer analytic torsion in three dimensions. For the lens Spaces L(p;q) an explicit analytic continuation of the appropriate zeta functions is contructed and implemented. Among the results obtained are closed formulae for the individual determinants involved, the large $p$ behaviour of the determinants and the torsion, as well as an infinite set of distinct formulae for zeta(3): the ordinary Riemann zeta function evaluated at s=3. The torsion turns out to be trivial for the cases L(6,1), L((10,3) and L(12,5) and is, in general, greater than unity for large p and less than unity for a finite number of p and q.