Difference index of vectorfields and the enhanced Milnor number (Q1813638)

In previous works Rudolph defined the notion of enhanced Milnor number \(\lambda(K)\) of a fibred codimension two link \(K\) in \(S^ n\) (\(n\) odd); \(\lambda(k)\) is an integer if \(n=3\) and an integer \(\mod 2\) if \(n>3\). A valuable property of \(\lambda(k)\) is that it vanishes if \(k\) is the link of an isolated singularity of a complex algebraic hypersurface. In the present paper \(\lambda\) is generalized to apply to oriented fibred multilinks (where each component is assigned a multiplicity which the fibration has to respect), and using a new definition many computations and examples are presented. (i) The effect of changing orientations of some of the components or the ambient space is determined. (ii) \(\lambda\) of a companion link is computed in terms of the components. (iii) A method is presented for computing \(\lambda\) of a link built up by iterated cabling and connected sums. These so-called solvable links are those studied by Eisenbud-Neumann. (iv) Tyhe effect on \(\lambda\) is computed for certain surgeries on links which, according to work of Stallings and Harer, turn fibred links into new fibred links. This is applied to show that \(\lambda\) can take any value (whether it could be negative was unknown) and to give a new proof of a formula which determines \(\lambda\bmod 2\) from the Seifert pairing or the homological monodromy.