Milnor numbers and the topology of polynomial hypersurfaces (Q1111732)

Let F: \({\mathbb{C}}^{n+1}\to {\mathbb{C}}\) be a polynomial. F is called tame if \(\| \partial F(x)\| >a\) for \(\| x\| >R\), where a and R are some positive real numbers. In this case, F has only a finite number of critical points. Let \(\mu\) (F) (resp. \(\mu^ c(F))\) be the sum of the Milnor numbers at all critical points of F in \({\mathbb{C}}^{n+1}\) (resp. lying on \(F^{-1}(c))\). Then the following theorem holds: For any \(c\in {\mathbb{C}}\), \(F^{-1}(c)\) has the homotopy type of a bouquet of \(\mu (F)- \mu^ c(F)\) spheres of dimension n. It is also shown that the property for a polynomial to be tame is generic. In the general case (i.e. without the assumption that F is tame), information on the homology groups of level sets \(F^{-1}(c)\) for generic \(c\in {\mathbb{C}}\) is also obtained in terms of the Milnor numbers of isolated critical points of F.