Elementary transformations of Dynkin graphs and singularities on quartic surfaces (Q1087944)

The object of this paper is to determine which combinations T of simple singularities can occur on a quartic surface X in \(P^ 3\). The results are complete if the sum (r) of the Milnor numbers of T is \(\leq 14\); for \(r=15, 16, 17\) they depend on certain restrictions on the root lattice Q of T. Since all components of T are assumed simple, X is a K3 surface, so Q embeds in the Picard group of the resolution \(\tilde X.\) Using the surjectivity of the period map for K3 surfaces, a converse result is established: that if the orthogonal sum S of Q and \({\mathbb{Z}}\lambda\) (where \(\lambda^ 2=-4)\) embeds in the unimodular even lattice \(\Lambda\) with signature (19,3) so that, if \(\tilde S\) is the pure hull of S, then (a) \(\eta\in \tilde S\), \(\eta.\lambda =0\), \(\eta^ 2=2\Rightarrow \eta \in Q,\quad and\) (b) \(u^ 2=0\), \(u.\lambda =-2\Rightarrow u\not\in \tilde S\), then one can construct a surface X. The problem is thus reduced to one in quadratic form theory. The restrictions on r and Q are used to construct isotropic elements in the orthogonal complement \(S^{\perp}\) of S in \(\Lambda\) : \(S^{\perp}\) and the desired embedding can then be reconstructed from local data. The long list of cases that could arise is organised by using the concept of 'elementary transformations' of root systems, which yield subsystems, so that only 9 (maximal) lattices Q need to be embedded: conversely, these are shown to arise using the classification of positive definite irreducible unimodular lattices of rank \(\leq 17\).