Finite determination conjecture for Mather-Jacobian minimal log discrepancies and its applications (Q1630215)

Mather-Jacobian log discrepancies are a variant of the usual log discrepancies, but with an expected uniform behaviour in arbitrary characteristic. The author proposes equivalent conjectures around this singularity invariant, and proves some instances and some applications. Let \(X\) be a variety, i.e., an equidimensional reduced and connected scheme of finite type, over an algebraically closed field (of arbitrary characteristic). For any prime divisor \(E\) over \(X\), the \textit{Mather-Jacobian (MJ) log discrepancy} is \(a_{MJ}(E;X) := \hat k_E - j_E +1 \in \mathbb Z\), where \(\hat k_E\) and \(j_E\) are the order of vanishing at \(E\) of the relative Jacobian ideal for a partial resolution of \(X\) on which \(E\) appears, and of the Jacobian ideal of \(X\), respectively. Note that the usual log discrepancy \(a(E;X)\) is only defined when \(X\) is normal and \(\mathbb Q\)-Gorenstein, and that \(a_{MJ}(E;X) = a(E;X)\) when \(X\) is a local complete intersection. Analogous to the classical notions, \(X\) is called \textit{MJ-log canonical} and \textit{MJ-canonical} at \(x\in X\) if \(a_{MJ}(E;X) \geq 0\) and \(a_{MJ}(E;X) \geq 1\), respectively, for all prime divisors \(E\) over \(X\) with centre containing \(x\), and the \textit{MJ-minimal log discrepancy} is \[ \operatorname{mld}_{MJ}(x;X) := \inf_E a_{MJ}(E;X), \] where \(E\) ranges over all the prime divisors over \(X\) with centre \(x\). The following equivalent descriptions are known: \[ \operatorname{mld}_{MJ}(x;X) = \operatorname{mld}(x;A,I_X^c), \] where \((X,x) \subset (A,x)\) is a closed immersion of codimension \(c\) in a non-singular variety \(A\) with defining ideal sheaf \(I_X\), and \(\operatorname{mld}\) is the usual minimal log discrepancy; and \[ \operatorname{mld}_{MJ}(x;X) = \inf_{m\in \mathbb N} \big( (m+1)d - \dim X_m(x) \big), \] where \(X_m(x)\) is the (local) scheme of \(m\)-jets of \(X\) at \(x\). Related to the last description, the author proposes the following `finite determination' conjecture. Let \(d\) be a positive integer. There exists \(N_d \in \mathbb N\), depending only on \(d\), such that, for any \(d\)-dimensional variety \(X\) and any \(x\in X\), there exists \(m\in \mathbb N\) satisfying either \begin{align*} (m+1)d - \dim X_m(x) &= \operatorname{mld}_{MJ}(x;X) \geq 0, \quad\text{or} \\ (m+1)d - \dim X_m(x) &<0 \ \ \text{when } \operatorname{mld}_{MJ}(x;X) = -\infty. \end{align*} She develops two equivalent formulations of the conjecture in terms of `boundedness' of prime divisors \(E\) computing \(\operatorname{mld}_{MJ}(x;X)\), one via bounding the usual log discrepancy \(a(E;X)\), and another via bounding the necessary number \(B_d\) of blow-ups, needed to obtain such \(E\). Next, she proves that, assuming the conjecture, (1) MJ-log canonicity and MJ-canonicity are open conditions, (2) these properties are stable under a small deformation, (3) the map \(x(\in X) \mapsto \operatorname{mld}_{MJ}(x;X)\) is lower semi-continuous. (Note that these properties are known in characteristic zero, but open in positive characteristic.) Finally, some instances of the conjecture are proven: for Newton non-degenerate hypersurfaces in any characteristic, and in dimension two in any characteristic different from \(2\). More precisely, then \(N_2 \leq 41\) and \(B_2 \leq 39\).