Upper bounds for roots of \(b\)-functions, following Kashiwara and Lichtin (Q2105132)

For a nonzero regular function \(f\in \mathcal{O}_X(X)\) on a smooth complex variety \(X\), the Bernstein-Sato polynomial (or \(b\)-function) of \(f\) is the monic polynomial \(b_f(s)\) of minimal degree that satisfies the condition \(b_f(s)f^s\in \mathcal{D}_X[s]\cdot f^{s+1}\), where \(s\) is an indeterminate and \(\mathcal{D}_X\) is the sheaf of differential operators on \(X\). The authors use a method proposed by Kashiwara and refined by Lichtin to give upper bounds for the roots of \(b\)-functions associated to regular functions \(f\) in terms of a log resolution of singularities. As applications, they recover with more elementary methods a result of Budur and Saito describing the multiplier ideals of \(f\) in terms of the \(V\)-filtration of \(f\) and a result of \textit{M. Mustaţă} and \textit{M. Popa} [Forum Math. Sigma 8, Paper No. e19, 41 p. (2020; Zbl 1451.14055)] giving a lower bound for the minimal exponent of \(f\) in terms of a log resolution.