Wavefunction of the universe and Chern-Simons perturbation theory

The Chern-Simons exact solution of four-dimensional quantum gravity with nonvanishing cosmological constant is presented in metric variables as the partition function of Chern-Simons theory with nontrivial source. The perturbative expansion is given, and the wavefunction is computed to the lowest order of approximation for the Cauchy surface which is topologically a 3-sphere. The state is well-defined even at degenerate and vanishing values of the dreibein. Reality conditions for the Ashtekar variables are also taken into account, and remarkable features of the Chern-Simons state and their relevance to cosmology are pointed out.