Analysis of observables in Chern-Simons perturbation theory

Chern-Simons theory with gauge group SU(N) is analyzed from a perturbation theory point of view. Computations up to order g6 of the vacuum expectation value of the unknot are carried out and it is shown that agreement with the exact result by Witten implies no quantum correction at two loops for the two-point function. In addition, it is shown from a perturbation theory point of view that the framing dependence of the vacuum expectation value of an arbitrary knot factorizes in the form predicted by Witten. (orig.)