Hyperbolic 3-manifolds as cyclic branched coverings (Q5943651)

The present paper analyzes existing relations between knots \(K_1\) and \(K_2\) in the 3-sphere such that the \(m\)-fold cyclic branched covering of \(K_1\) coincides with the \(n\)-fold cyclic branched covering of \(K_2\) \((m\) and \(n\) being arbitrary integers). Equivalently, from the point of view of 3-manifolds, the following problem is faced: in how many different ways can a given 3-manifold occur as a cyclic branched covering of knots in \(\mathbb{S}^3\). Note that the case of homology 3-spheres (resp. of \(m=n)\) is already faced in [\textit{M. Reni}, Monatsh. Math. 128, No. 1, 23-33 (1999; Zbl 0933.57011)], resp. in [\textit{B. Zimmermann}, Math. Ann. 311, No. 4, 665-673 (1998; Zbl 0913.57008)]. Here, the authors solve the problem, under certain hypotheses, for the basic class of hyperbolic knots and hyperbolic 3-manifolds, by making use in a crucial way of results from finite group theory [\textit{M. Suzuki}, Group theory II, Grundlehren Math. Wiss. 248 (1986; Zbl 0586.20001)]. Together with known results of \textit{W. H. Meeks} and \textit{P. Scott} concerning Seifert fiber spaces [Invent. Math. 86, 287-346 (1986; Zbl 0626.57006)], the present paper allows to face the problem for general 3-manifolds, too, via the equivariant sphere theorem and torus decomposition into Seifert fiber spaces and hyperbolic manifolds.