Singularities of quotients by vector fields in characteristic \(p\) (Q1059117)

Let \(D\) be a vector field on a smooth algebraic variety \(X\) defined over a field \(k\) of characteristic \(p>0\), and let \(\pi: X\to X^ D\) denote the quotient map. If deg \(\pi=p\), \textit{A. N. Rudakov} and \textit{I. R. Shafarevich} [Math. USSR, Izv. 10 (1976), 1205-1237 (1978); translation from Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Mat. 40, 1269-1307 (1976; Zbl 0365.14008)]) have shown \(X^ D\) is non-singular if and only if D has only divisorial singularities. In the present paper this result is extended and sharpened as follows: if deg \(\pi\) \(=p^ m\), then the singular locus of \(X^ D\) is the image, under the homeomorphism \(\pi\), of the union of the isolated components of codimension \(\geq 2\) of the discriminantal locus of the vector fields \(D\), \(D^ p,...,D^{p^{m- 1}}.\) In general, the singularities of \(X^ D\) can be excessively bad. However, a class of derivations - called semi-simple by analogy with the notion used in the theory of restricted Lie algebras - is introduced and used to gain some hold on quotient singularities. In particular, they are shown to be Cohen-Macaulay in this case, and criteria for them are derived, in terms of \({\mathbb{F}}_ p\)-linear dependencies among the roots of the characteristic polynomial of the induced endomorphism of the cotangent space, to be Gorenstein or complete intersection. Finally, semi-simple derivations are used in conjunction with Samuel's theory of \(p\)-radical descent, in order to compute the divisor class groups of certain normal domains of characteristic \(p\).