Analysis of saddle-point configurations in 3-dimensional SU(2) gauge theory

We discuss the properties of a class of saddle point solutions in SU(2) in three dimensions (SU$(2)_3$), exhibiting localized peaks in the action. These configurations are generated by deterministic cooling and extremizing algorithms from analytic configurations. They share some characteristics with cooled and extremized Monte Carlo generated lattices. We have investigated physical behavior such as the string tension by averaging over this class of saddle point configurations. We have also measured the eigenvalues for harmonic fluctuations around these configurations.