$\widehat{Z}$ and Splice Diagrams

We study quantum $q$-series invariants of 3-manifolds $\widehat{Z}_\sigma$ of Gukov–Pei–Putrov–Vafa, using techniques from the theory of normal surface singularities such as splice diagrams. We show that the (suitably normalized) sum of all $\widehat{Z}_\sigma$ depends only on the splice diagram, and in particular, it agrees for manifolds with the same universal abelian cover. We use these ideas to find simple formulas for $\widehat{Z}_\sigma$ invariants of Seifert manifolds. Applications include a better understanding of the vanishing of the $q$-series $\widehat{Z}_\sigma$. Additionally, we study moduli spaces of flat $\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb{C})$ connections on Seifert manifolds and their relation to spectra of surface singularities, extending a result of Boden and Curtis for Brieskorn spheres to Seifert rational homology spheres with 3 singular fibers and to Seifert homology spheres with any number of fibers.