On the annealed large deviation rate function for a multi-dimensional random walk in random environment

We derive properties of the rate function in Varadhans (annealed) large deviation principle for multidimensional, ballistic random walk in random environment, in a certain neighborhood of the zero set of the rate function. Our approach relates the LDP to that of regeneration times and distances. The analysis of the latter is possible due to the i.i.d. structure of regenerations.