On the torsion differentials (Q1265500)

Let \(X\) be a curve defined over an algebraically closed field \(k\), let \( x \in X \) be a singular point of \(X\), let \( R = {\mathcal O}_{X, x} \) be the local ring of \(x\) on \(X\), and let \( \Omega_{R/k} \) be the \(R\)-module of differentials of the \(k\)-algebra \(R\). \textit{R. Berger} [Math. Z. 81, 326-354 (1963; Zbl 0113.26302)] was the first to study the torsion submodule \(T\) of \( \Omega_{R/k} \) which is an \(R\)-module of finite length. After Berger, many authors investigated \(T\) [cf., e.g., \textit{E. Kunz}, Arch. Math. 19, 47-58 (1968; Zbl 0162.05502), \textit{S. Susuki}, J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 4, 471-475 (1965; Zbl 0127.26102), \textit{B. Ulrich}, Arch. Math. 36, 510-523 (1981; Zbl 0458.13008), \textit{R. Waldi}, Math. Ann. 242, 201-208 (1979; Zbl 0426.14004) and \textit{O. Zariski}, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 56, 781-786 (1966; Zbl 0144.20201)]. This interesting paper gives further results on \(T\). In the first part, the author studies, more generally, the torsion submodule of an \(R\)-module \( R^n/a R \) where \(n\) is a positive integer and \( a \in R^n\), \(R\) being a one-dimensional local ring. Let \( a = a_1 e_1 + \cdots + a_n e_n \), \( \{e_1, \ldots, e_n \} \) being the canonical basis of \( R^n\), and let \( J = a_1 R + \cdots + a_n R \). If \(J\) contains a regular element, then \( \ell_R(T) = \ell_R(J^{-1} / R) \) is finite, and if \( n = 2 \), then we have \( \ell_R(T) = \ell_R(R/J)\). Now let \(R\) be an arbitrary domain, let \(M\) be a finitely generated \(R\)-module of rank \(n\), and let \(J\) be the \(n\)-th Fitting ideal of \(M\). Assume that \(M\) admits a finite representation \[ \to R^p \to R^q \to M \to 0. \] Let \(T\) be the torsion submodule of \(M\). Then (theorem 3) there exists an exact sequence \[ 0 \to T \to (J^{-1} / R)^p \to (J^{-1}/R)^q \] which implies that \( T = 0 \) is equivalent with \( J^{-1} = R \) (corollary 4). Now consider the particular case where \(R\) is the local ring of a point \(x\) of an algebraic variety defined over \(k\), and \( M = \Omega_{R/k}\); then \(J\) is the jacobian ideal. In theorem 2 the author shows that \(R\) is normal if \( J^{-1} = R \) , and if \(X\) is locally a complete intersection in \(x\), then \( \Omega_{R/k} \) is reflexive iff the height of \(J\) is \( \geq 3 \). In section 3 the author studies quadratic transformations of a complete local one-dimensional \(k\)-algebra \(R\) which is a complete intersection, and he shows the inequality \( \ell_{R_1}(T_1)+ \cdots+ \ell_{R_n}(T_1) \leq\ell_R(T)\), where \( R_1, \ldots, R_n \) are the rings in the first neighbourhood of \(R\) and \(T_1,\ldots,T_n\) are the corresponding torsion modules [with respect to the construction of \( R_1, \ldots, R_n\); the author should have included in his bibliography also the paper by \textit{J. Lipman}, Am. J. Math. 93, 649-685 (1971; Zbl 0228.13008)]. From now on let \(R\) be the ring of a plane irreducible algebroid curve, i.e., \( R= \mathbb{C} [[X, Y ]] /(F)\) where \(F\) is an irreducible power series. Then the integral closure \( \overline{R}\) of \(R\) has the form \( \overline{R}=\mathbb{C}[[t ]] \); let \(\nu\) be the canonical valuation of \( \overline{R}\), \( \Gamma= \{\nu(z) \mid z \in R \} \) the semigroup of values, and \( \Lambda= \{\nu(t \omega) \mid \omega \in x' R+ y' R \}\) where \( x, y \) are the images of \( X, Y \) in \(R\), and \( x'= d x/dt \), \( y'= dy/dt \). In section 4 the author shows that \( \ell_R(T)= c - \#(\Lambda)\), \(c\) being the conductor of \( \Gamma\). Some generalizations are contained in theorem 7. Zariski [cf. the paper referred to above] has characterized those curves with \( \ell_R(T)= c \); they are isomorphic to \( Y^m - X^n= 0 \), i.e., to curves having one Puiseux pair. In section 6 the author calculates \( \Lambda \) for the case of curves having two Puiseux pairs. Finally, taking Ebey's list [cf. \textit{S. Ebey}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 118, 454-471 (1965; Zbl 0132.41602)], the author calculates \( \ell(T)\) for certain curves having only one Puiseux pair. The following two works could also have been included in the bibliography: \textit{A. Campillo}, ``Algebroid curves in positive characteristic'', Lect. Notes Math. 813 (1980; Zbl 0451.14010); \textit{P. Russell}, Manuscr. Math. 31, 25-95 (1980; Zbl 0455.14018).