Spectral bounds on orbifold isotropy (Q2486679)

The article shows two main results. Main theorem 1. Let \(S\) be a family of Laplace isospectral compact Riemannian orbifolds, satisfying a common lower Ricci curvature bound. Then, up to isomorphism, there are only finitely many possible isotropy types for points in manifolds in \(S\). Main theorem 2. Suppose that one has a family \(S\) as above. If, in addition, all orbifold singularities are isolated and if the manifolds in \(S\) have a common lower sectional curvature bound, then there is an upper bound on the number of singular points of manifolds in \(S\). The article starts with a well-written introduction into orbifold theory. The volume comparison for Ricci curvature bounded from below is adapted to the orbifold setting. Other statements, such as Rayleigh's spectral theorem, Weyl's asymptotic formula or Cheng's theorem are properly cited. Their proofs can be taken over from the manifold case almost literally. These various techniques are cleverly used in the final part to derive the bounds stated in the main theorems.