Coxeter groups and hyperbolic manifolds (Q1882605)

There are rather few techniques for constructing hyperbolic \(n\)-manifolds with \(n\geq 4\). Notable recent progress by \textit{J. Ratcliffe} and \textit{S. Tschantz} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 488, 55--78 (1997; Zbl 0873.11031); Exp. Math. 9, No. 1, 101--125 (2000; Zbl 0963.57012)] includes examples of smallest possible volume when \(n=4\). Additional constructions of \textit{D. Ivanšić} produce arbitrarily large numbers of hyperbolic \(4\)-manifolds having identical volumes [Differ. Geom. Appl. 10, No. 3, 205--223 (1999; Zbl 0945.51009)]. In this article, the author uses Coxeter groups to produce examples of very small volume in dimensions \(4\), \(5\), and \(6\). The idea is to start with a Coxeter group \(\Gamma\) imbedded as a lattice in \(\hbox{Isom}(H^n)\). Methodology is developed to find torsion-free subgroups of finite index in \(\Gamma\), which are the fundamental groups of the desired manifolds. Basic properties of the manifolds, such as volume and orientability, can be determined from the structure of \(\Gamma\). The paper is very well-written, and includes a pleasant exposition of the theory of Coxeter groups on which it draws heavily. The author's example in dimension~\(4\) has Euler characteristic \(1\), and so it has minimal volume, since in even dimensions the Gauss-Bonnet formula shows that the volume is proportional to \((-1)^{n/2}\) times the Euler characteristic. The volume of his dimension-\(5\) example is eight times the smallest known volume, that of a more recent example of \textit{J. Ratcliffe} and \textit{S. Tschantz} [Geom. Dedicata 107, 187--209 (2004; Zbl 1073.57011)]. The author's example in dimension \(6\) has Euler characteristic \(-16\), but in joint work with Ratcliffe and Tschantz, he has recently produced a hyperbolic \(6\)-manifold with Euler characteristic \(-1\) [\textit{B. Everitt, J. Ratcliffe, S. Tschantz}, The smallest hyperbolic \(6\)-manifolds, Mathematics ArXiv GT/0410474].