Three-Dimensional Small Covers and Links

Abstract

We study certain orientation-preserving involutions on three-dimensional small covers. We prove that the quotient space of an orientable three-dimensional small cover by such an involution in ${\mathbb{Z}}_2^3$ is homeomorphic to a connected sum of copies of $S^2\times S^1$. If this quotient space is a 3-sphere, then the corresponding small cover is a two-fold branched covering of the 3-sphere along a link. We provide a description of this link in terms of the polytope and the characteristic function.

Substantial revision: several inaccuracies corrected, the main results clarified and the general exposition improved