Embedded desingularization of toric varieties (Q650837)

This paper is about algorithmic, or constructive, embedded desingularization in the context of toric varieties. More precisely, a \textit{pair} is an ordered pair \((W,E)\), where \(W\) is a regular toric variety (with torus \(T \subset W\)) and \(E= W \setminus T\) (a divisor with regular components with normal crossings). It is possible to associate to a cone in the fan \(\Sigma\) defining \(W\) a regular subscheme \(Z\) of \( W\); blowing up such a centre one obtains a new pair \((W_1,E_1)\) (the transform of \((E,W)\) with the \textit{combinatorial centre} \(Z\)). The Main Theorem of the present paper says that given a pair \((W,E)\) and a toric embedding \(X \subset W\) there is a sequence \[ (E,W)=(E_0,W_0) \leftarrow \cdots \leftarrow (E_N,W_N) \] of pairs and transformations with combinatorial centres, so that the strict transform of \(X\) to \(W_N\) is regular, having normal crossings with \(E_N\) and, moreover, there is an isomorphism of \(R\) (the set of points of regular points of \(X\) at which \(X\) has normal crossings with \(E\)) with its pre-image in \(W_N\). The first result of this type appears in \textit{E. Bierstone} and \textit{P. Milman} [J. Alg. Geom. 15, No. 3, 443--486 (2006; Zbl 1120.14009)]. Later \textit{R. Blanco} obtained, using different techniques, a result similar to the Main Theorem [``Desingularization of binomials in arbitrary characteristic'', part 1, to appear in Math. Nachr., and Q. J. Math, \url{doi:10.1093/qmath/har019}, online version (2011)]. In her previous work, Blanco first proved a theorem on resolution of \textit{binomial basic objects} (tuples \((W,(J,c)), H,E)\), where \((W,E)\) is a pair, \(J\) is a coherent sheaf of \({\mathcal O}_W\) and \(H \subseteq E\)). Then she used this result to get embedded resolution as in the Main Theorem. But this reduction is not ``canonical'', it involves the choice of certain Gröbner bases of ideals. In the present article the authors use the mentioned result on resolution of basic objects, but the transition to the Main Theorem is achieved with the aid of a new auxiliary invariant \((Hcodim(\)X\()\), whose value at a point \(x \in X\) is the minimum dimension of a regular toric subvariety of \(W\) containing \(X\) near \(x\)). Proceeding in this way, no choices are necessary. Actually, the authors describe an algorithm to determine the combinatorial centres used in the Main Theorem. As an application they obtain a process for log-resolution (i.e., principalization, satisfying certain natural properties) of toric ideals. The results described are valid when the base field is perfect, of any characteristic. They conclude the paper with an example where the singularities of a toric surface in affine four-space are resolved with their method.