On branched coverings of singular (G, X)-manifolds

Branched coverings boast a rich history, ranging from the ramification of Riemann surfaces to the realization of 3-manifolds as coverings branched over knots and spanning both geometric topology and algebraic geometry. This work delves into branched coverings “à la Fox” of (G, X)-manifolds, encompassing three main avenues: Firstly, we introduce a comprehensive class of singular (G, X)-manifolds, elucidating elementary theory paired with illustrative examples to showcase its efficacy and universality. Secondly, building on Montesinos’ work, we revisit and augment the prevailing knowledge, formulating a Galois theory tailored for such branched coverings. This includes a detailed portrayal of the fiber above branching points. Lastly, we identify local attributes that guarantee the existence of developing maps for singular (G, X)-manifolds within the branched coverings framework. Notably, we pinpoint conditions that ensure the existence of developing maps for these singular manifolds. This research proves especially pertinent for non-metric singular (G, X)-manifolds like those of Lorentzian or projective nature, as discussed by Barbot, Bonsante, Suhyoung Choi, Danciger, Seppi, Schlenker, and the author, among others. While examples are sprinkled throughout, a standout application presented is a uniformization theorem “à la Mess” for singular locally Minkowski manifolds exhibiting BTZ-like singularities.