On compact hyperbolic manifolds of Euler characteristic two (Q2441262)

In the paper, it is shown that for \(n > 4\) there do not exist compact arithmetic hyperbolic \(n\)-manifolds whose Euler characteristic has absolute value equal to \(2\). This implies that for even \(n\neq 4\) there are no arithmetically defined hyperbolic rational homology \(n\)-spheres. Since the Euler characteristic of odd dimensional closed manifolds is zero, the problem restricts to even dimensions. In the previous work [\textit{M. Belolipetsky}, Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa, Cl. Sci. (5) 3, No. 4, 749--770 (2004; Zbl 1170.11307)], the reviewer computed the minimal volumes of compact even-dimensional arithmetic hyperbolic orbifolds. It immediately follows that the absolute value of Euler characteristic is bigger than \(2\) for \(n \geq 12\). The remaining cases \(n = 6\), \(8\) and \(10\) require careful arithmetic analysis which is done by Emery in the present paper. It is worth noting that the case \(n = 4\) remains open.