Positive simplicial volume implies virtually positive Seifert volume for 3-manifolds (Q2402865)

Let \(M\) be a closed orientable three-manifold, and let \(G\) be either \(\mathrm{Iso}_{+}(\mathbb{H}^3)\), the orientation preserving isometry group of hyperbolic three-space or \(\mathrm{Iso}_{e}(\widetilde{\mathrm{SL}_2 \mathbb{R}})\), the identity component of the isometry group of the universal cover of \(\mathrm{SL}_2 \mathbb{R}\). We denote by \(||M||\) the simplicial volume of \(M\), and by \(\mathrm{Vol}(M,G)\) the maximum volume of all representations \(\rho : \pi_1(M) \rightarrow G\). It was known from work of \textit{A. Reznikov} [J. Differ. Geom. 43, No. 3, 674--692 (1996; Zbl 0874.32009)] that if \(G = \mathrm{Iso}_{+}(\mathbb{H}^3)\), then \({\mathrm{Vol}(N,G)}/{[N:M]} \leq v_3 ||M||\) for any finite cover \(N\) of \(M\), where \(v_3\) is the volume of the regular ideal hyperbolic tetrahedron. By contrast, in this paper, the authors show that if \(G = \mathrm{Iso}_{e}(\widetilde{\mathrm{SL}_2 \mathbb{R}})\) and \(||M|| \neq 0\), then there exists a sequence of finite covers \(N_n\) of \(M\) such that \({\mathrm{Vol}(N_n,G)}/{[N_n:M]} \rightarrow + \infty\).