\(L^2\)-torsion of hyperbolic manifolds (Q1275224)

The analytic \(L^2\)-torsion \({\text{Tor}}_{(2)}\) of an \(L^2\)-acyclic Riemannian \((2n+1)\)-dimensional manifold of determinant class defined by \[ \text{Tor}_{(2)}(M)=2\sum_{j=0}^{n} (-1)^{j+1}\text{log det}_G(\Delta_j|), \] where \(G\) is the ~fundamental group of \(M\), \(\Delta_j|\) is the Laplacian restricted to coclosed forms on the universal covering \(\widetilde{M}\) and the logarithm of the \(G\)-determinant is expressed in ~terms of the local trace of the heat kernel. \textit{J. Lott} [J. Differ. Geom. 35, No. 2, 471-510 (1992; Zbl 0770.58040)] conjectured that the \(L^2\)-torsion of hyperbolic manifolds of arbitrary odd dimension does not vanish. This conjecture is proved in the present paper. For some dimensions these values are explicitly computed and compared with already published values. Also, estimates of their growth with the dimension are given.