Controlling manifold covers of orbifolds (Q730680)

The author proves a generalization of Selberg's lemma for arithmetic groups that has several geometric applications. The main theorem is stated as follows. Given a semisimple element in \(GL(n,\mathbb{Z})\), and a torsion-free subgroup \(\Gamma\) that is virtually unipotent, there exists a finite index subgroup of \(GL(n,\mathbb{Z})\) that contains \(\Gamma\) and is disjoint from the conjugacy class of the given semisimple element. Recall that an element is semisimple if it can be diagonalized, and that a unipotent subgroup is conjugated to a group of upper triangular matrices. As a corollary, since there are finitely many conjugacy classes of torsion elements, the finite index subgroup of \(GL(n,\mathbb{Z})\) is torsion free. In addition, the same result applies to arithmetic groups. Several applications of this result are explained in the paper, mainly for arithmetic groups of hyperbolic isometries, where \(\Gamma\) is a parabolic subgroup. For instance, every closed flat \(n\)-manifold is shown to be diffeomorphic to the cusp cross section of an arithmetic hyperbolic \((n+1)\)-manifold. A slightly weaker version was proved by \textit{D. D. Long} and \textit{A. W. Reid} [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 2, 285--296 (2002; Zbl 0998.57038)], with an arithmetic \((n+1)\)-orbifold, and McReynold's theorem allows to replace the orbifold by a manifold. Another application is the proof of a conjecture of \textit{B. E. Nimershiem} [Topology Appl. 90, No.~1--3, 109--133 (1998; Zbl 0927.57010)]: the set of similarity classes of flat structures on a closed \(n\) manifold that can be realized in cusp cross sections of hyperbolic \((n+1)\)-manifolds is dense. In addition, the hyperbolic \((n+1)\)-manifolds can be assumed to be arithmetic. The analogues for complex and quaternionic hyperbolic spaces are also discussed.