Guts and volume for hyperbolic $3$-orbifolds with underlying space $S^3$

Abstract

For a hyperbolic $3$-orbifold with underlying space the $3$-sphere, we obtain a lower bound on its volume in the case that it contains an essential $2$-suborbifold with underlying space the $2$-sphere with four cone points. Our techniques involve computing the guts of the orbifold split along the $2$-suborbifold via a careful analysis of its topology. We also characterize the orbifolds of this type that have empty guts.

19 pages, 7 figures