Double coverings of octic arrangements with isolated singularities (Q1573884)

The subject of this paper are Calabi-Yau manifolds which are obtained by resolving the singularities of double coverings of \(\mathbb P^3\) branched along an octic surface. These surfaces are allowed to be reducible and to have isolated and non-isolated singularities of certain specified types, more general than those considered in the paper of \textit{S. Cynk} and \textit{T. Szemberg} [in: Singularities Symposium-Łojasiewicz 70, Cracow 1996, and Seminar Singularities and Geometry, Warsaw 1996, Banach Cent. Publ. 44, 93-101 (1998; Zbl 0915.14025)]. The main result of this paper states (similar to the paper of Cynk and Szemberg) the existence of a resolution of such a double solid which is Calabi--Yau. The topological Euler number is computed for such manifolds and a table is presented, which shows the possible values. Using the methods and results of the paper of Cynk and Szemberg mentioned above and by allowing isolated singularities on the branch octic, the author is able to fill most of the gaps in the table of possible Euler numbers which was presented in his joint paper with T. Szemberg (loc. cit.).