The negative K-theory of normal surfaces. (Q1847832)

The author studies negative \(K\)-theory of normal surfaces. These are shown to be related to a resolution of singularities \(\widetilde X \rightarrow X\) of the surface. The negative \(K\)-theory groups of an algebraic scheme are known to be supported at singularities in a sense that \(K_{-j}(X)=0\) for \(X\) regular. The construction of the resolution of singularities involves a blow up along a locally complete intersection and normalization. The main theorem is the following: Theorem 4.4. Let \(X\) be a 2-dimensional excellent noetherian scheme. (i) If \(q\leq -3\), then \(K_{q}(X)=0\). (ii) If \(q\leq -2\), then \(X\) is \(K_q\)-regular; that is, \(K_{q}(X)\cong K_{q}(X[t_1\dots t_p])\) for all \(p\). (iii) If \(X\) is normal, then \(K_{-2}(X)\cong {\mathbb Z}^{\lambda}\), where \(\lambda\) is the number of loops in the exceptional divisors of a resolution of singularites of \(X.\) The author also gives a criterion for a surface \(X\) to be \(K_{-1}\)-regular (cf. Proposition 5.8). As a consequence the author obtains \textit{V. Srinivas}' Conjecture B [Duke Math. J. 53, 595--633 (1986; Zbl 0615.14009)]. Let \(R\) be the semilocal ring of \(X\) at its singular points. The author proves Srinivas' Conjecture A which asserts that \(K_{-1}(X)\) is isomorphic to the quotient of the class group of the henselization \(R^h\) of \(R\) by the class group of \(R\).