\(\mathbb Z_2\)-Thurston norm and complexity of 3-manifolds (Q1952291)

Given a closed, irreducible 3-manifold \(M\) (different from \(\mathbb S^3\), \(\mathbb R \mathbb P^2\) and \(L(3,1)\)), the \textit{complexity} of \(M\) is known to be the minimum number of tetrahedra in a (pseudo-simplicial) triangulation of \(M\): see [\textit{S. V. Matveev}, Acta Appl. Math. 19, No. 2, 101--130 (1990; Zbl 0724.57012); Algorithmic topology and classification of 3-manifolds. 2nd ed. Berlin: Springer (2007; Zbl 1128.57001)]. In [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 11, No. 3, 1257--1265 (2011; Zbl 1229.57010)], the present authors found a lower bound for the complexity of \(M\), in case of \(M\) having a connected double cover (or, equivalently, a non-trivial \(\mathbb Z_2\)-cohomology class). The present paper makes use of the notion of \textit{\(\mathbb Z_2\)-Thurston norm} (an analogue of Thurston's norm, defined in [\textit{W. P. Thurston}, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 339, 99--130 (1986; Zbl 0585.57006)]) in order to obtain a new lower bound on the complexity of \(M\), if \(M\) admits multiple \(\mathbb Z_2\)-cohomology classes. Moreover, the minimal triangulations realizing this bound are characterized, in terms of normal surfaces consisting entirely of quadrilateral discs. \smallskip It is worthwhile to note that the combinatorial structure of a minimal triangulation turns out to be governed by \textit{\(0\)-efficiency} ([\textit{J. H. Rubinstein}, J. Differ. Geom. 65, No. 1, 61--168 (2003; Zbl 1068.57023)]) and \textit{low degree edges} ([the authors, J. Topol. 2, No. 1, 157--180 (2009; Zbl 1227.57026)]), and that the unique minimal triangulation of the generalized quaternionic space \(\mathbb S^3/Q_{8k}\) (\(\forall k \in \mathbb Z^+\)) -- already obtained by the authors via the first lower bound -- actually realizes this new bound, too.