The Wilson loop observables of Chern-Simons theory on R3 in axial gauge

We define the Wilson loop observables (WLOs) for pure Chern-Simons models with base manifold M=R-3 rigorously as infinite dimensional oscillatory integrals by exploiting an ''axial gauge fixing'' and applying certain regularization techniques like ''loop-smearing'' and ''framing''. The values of the WLOs can be computed explicitly. If the structure group G of the model considered is Abelian one obtains well-known linking number expressions for the WLOs. If G is Non-Abelian one obtains expressions which are similar but not identical to the state sum representations for the Homfly and Kauffman polynomials by Jones and Turaev.