On the upper semi-continuity of the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity (Q1770475)

For a local ring \((R,m,k)\) containing a field of characteristic \(p>0\) the following conjecture was considered by \textit{K. I. Watanabe} and \textit{K. Yoshida} [Nagoya Math. J. 177, 47--75 (2005; Zbl 1076.13009)]: Suppose that \(k\) is the algebraic closure of \({\mathbb F}_p\). Let \(d\geq 2\) and \(p\) a prime , \(p\neq 2.\) Let also \(R_{p,d}:=k[[X_0,\dots,X_d]]/(X_0^2+\cdots+X_d^2).\) If \(R\) is \(d\)-dimensional, unmixed and not regular, then \[ e_{HK}(R)\geq e_{HK}(R_{p,d}). \] The cases \(d=2,3,4\) have been solved in general by \textit{M. Blickle} and \textit{F. Enescu} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 132, 2505--2509 (2004; Zbl 1099.13009)] and \textit{K. I. Watanabe} and \textit{K. Yoshida} [J. Algebra 230, 295--317(2000; Zbl 0964.13008)]. The aim of the paper under review is to prove this conjecture for complete intersections. The proof is given by doing it first for hypersurfaces and reducing the general case to this one.