On two inequality conjectures for the \(k\)-th Yau numbers of isolated hypersurface singularities (Q2025645)

Let \(f : (\mathbb{C}^{n+1},0) \to (\mathbb C,0)\) be a holomorphic function defining an isolated hypersurface singularity \((V(f),0) = (V,0) \subset (\mathbb C^{n+1},0)\) and define \(A^k(V) = \mathcal O_{n+1}/\langle f,\mathfrak m^k \mathrm{Jac}(f)\rangle\) for \(k\geq 0\); in case \(k=0\) this is the familiar Tjurina -- or moduli algebra encoding non-trivial infinitesimal deformations of \((V,0)\). The authors study two conjectural inequalities on the so-called Yau numbers \(\lambda^k(V)\) which are defined as the length of the Lie algebra of derivations \[ L^k(V) = \mathrm{Der}(A^k(V),A^k(V)). \] These Lie algebras play an important role in the study of deformations of singularities, see e.g. [\textit{C. Seeley} and \textit{S. S. T. Yau}, Invent. Math. 99, No. 3, 545--565 (1990; Zbl 0666.14002); \textit{N. Hussain}, Methods Appl. Anal. 25, No. 4, 307--322 (2018; Zbl 1436.14008)]. The first inequality (Conjecture 1.1; originally from \textit{N. Hussain} et al [``\(k\)-th Yau number of isolated hyper-surface singularities and an inequality conjecture'', J. Aust. Math. Soc. (2019; \url{doi:10.1017/S1446788719000132})]) bounds these numbers from below by \[ \lambda^{k+1}(V) > \lambda^k(V) \] for \(k\geq 0\), \(n >0\), and \(f\) of multiplicity at least three. In this paper, the conjecture is verified for ``trinomial singularities'' in the case \(k=1\), other cases being covered in earlier publications. The second inequality (Conjecture 1.2; originally from [\textit{N. Hussain} et al., Math. Z. 294, No. 1--2, 331--358 (2020; Zbl 1456.14005)]) is on singularities which are quasi-homogeneous for some weights \(w=(w_0,\dots,w_n;d)\) and it bounds the number \(\lambda^k(V)\) from above by the \(k\)-th Yau number of the associated Brieskorn-Pham singularity, which is then a function of the weights \(w\) only. The authors verify this second conjecture for trinomial singularities in the case \(k=2\). The proof of these inequalities proceeds by reduction to normal forms and subsequent case-by-case analysis. Not all of the calculations are printed here, but can only be found online: \url{http://archive.ymsc.tsinghua.edu.cn/pacm_download/89/11687-HYZ2020.pdf}.