Linear systems on weakly normal varieties (in positive characteristic) (Q1812792)

Recall that: (i) an algebraic variety \(X\) is said to be weakly normal (WN) if every birational morphism \(X'\to X\), which is also a universal homoeomorphism is an isomorphism; (ii) a variety \(X\) is said to be WN1, if it is WN and the normalisation morphism \(\overline X\to X\) is unramified in codimension 1. --- The classical theorem of Bertini says that the general member of a linear system \(S\) over an algebraic variety \(X\) (over the field of complex numbers) is non singular but perhaps at the base points of \(S\) and at the singular points of \(X\). It is known [see the authors, J. Algebra 98, 171-182 (1986; Zbl 0613.14006)], that a Bertini type theorem holds for all local properties \(P\) which satisfy certain axioms. In particular a Bertini theorem holds for the property \(P=WN\) in characteristic zero, but it does not hold in general in positive characteristic [see the authors, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 106, No. 1, 37-42 (1989; Zbl 0699.14063)]. In the paper under review, applying the axiomatic approach, it is shown that in positive characteristic a Bertini theorem holds for the property \(P=WN+S_ 2\) and in particular for \(P=WN+\)Gorenstein.