Department of Mathematics

If a closed smooth n-manifold M admits a finite cover whose Z/2Z-cohomology has the maximal cup-length, then for any riemannian metric g on M, we show that the systole Sys(M,g) and the volume Vol(M,g) of the riemannian manifold (M,g) are related by the following isosystolic inequality: Sys(M,g)^n \leq n! Vol(M,g). The inequality can be regarded as a generalization of Burago and Hebda's inequality for closed essential surfaces and as a refinement of Guth's inequality for closed n-manifolds whose Z/2Z-cohomology has the maximal cup-length. We also establish the same inequality in the context of possibly non-compact manifolds under a similar cohomological condition. The inequality applies to (i) T^n and all other compact euclidean space forms, (ii) RP^n and many other spherical space forms including the Poincar e dodecahedral space, and (iii) most closed essential 3-manifolds including all closed aspherical 3-manifolds.