Universal Abelian covers of quotient-cusps (Q1396486)

The paper is devoted to prove that, given a quotient-cusp singularity \((V,p)\), its universal Abelian cover branched at \(p\) is a complete intersection cusp singularity. A quotient-cusp singularity \((V,p)\) is an isolated complex surface singularity which is double-covered by a cusp singularity. It is a rational singularity which is taut, i.e. the topology of its link determines the analytic type of \((V,p)\). In the paper, the universal Abelian cover \(({\widetilde V}, p)\) of \((V,p)\) branched at \(p\) is determined from the topology of the link \((V,p)\), and the proof is based on the description of the link of \((V,p)\) obtained by \textit{W. D. Neumann} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 268, 299-343 (1981; Zbl 0546.57002)], and some calculus. The authors also sketch a more geometric proof by giving an explicit group action on a different complete intersection representation of the cusp. If the link of a normal complex surface singularity is a rational homology sphere, then the universal Abelian cover of the link is a finite covering, hence it gives rise to the universal Abelian cover of the singularity. The result in the paper, and the study by \textit{W. D. Neumann} [in: Singularities, Summer Inst., Arcata/Calif. 1981. Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 40, Part 2, 233-243 (1983; Zbl 0519.32010)] of universal Abelian covers of weighted homogeneous normal surface singularities is the motivation of the authors to state the following conjecture: Let \((X,o)\) be a \(\mathbb Q\)-Gorenstein normal surface singularity whose link is a rational homology sphere, then the universal Abelian cover \(({\widetilde X}, 0)\) of \((X,o)\) is a complete intersection.