Equimultiplicity, algebraic elimination, and blowing-up (Q2251890)

Let \(X\) be an algebraic scheme over a perfect field \(k\). An important invariant attached to a point \(x \in X\) is its multiplicity \(\mathrm{mult}_X(x)\). This gives rise to a function \(\mathrm{mult}_X: |X| \to \mathbb N\), where \(|X|\) is the underlying topological space of \(X\), which is upper-semicontinuous (a non-trivial fact). The sets \(F_m(X)=\{x: \mathrm{mult}_X(x) =m\}\) stratify \(|X|\) into locally closed sets. This is the \textit{equimultiple stratification} of \(X\). Of particular interest is the closed stratum \(F_n(X)\), where \(n\) is the maximum value of \(\mathrm{mult}_X\). Indeed, if \(f:X_1 \to X\) is the blowing-up of \(X\) with a closed, regular center \(C\subseteq F_n(X)\), then \(F_n(X_1) \subseteq f^{-1}(F_n(X))\). Hence, if we are able to get a sequence of blow-ups of this type such that eventually \(F_n(X_r)=\emptyset\), by induction or iterating we resolve the singularities of \(X\). In the paper under review the author investigates this stratification, specially the stratum \(F_n(X)\) corresponding to maximal multiplicity. Probably the main contribution is a ``representation via embeddings'' theorem. This means that if \(x \in F_n(X)\) is a closed point, there is an étale neighborhood \((X',x') \to (X,x)\), a closed embedding \(X' \subseteq W\), with \(W\) regular and a Rees algebra \(\mathcal G\) on \(W\) such that \(\mathrm{Sing} (\mathcal G) = F_n(X')\), satisfying other useful properties. Moreover, this situation is preserved if we take sequences of blowing ups \(X =X_0\leftarrow \cdots \leftarrow X_s\) with centers \(C_i \subseteq F_n(X_i)\) (assuming \(F_n(X_i)\) is not empty). In particular, assuming to simplify \(X'=X\), a resolution of the Rees algebra \(\mathcal G\) induces, using the same centers, a sequence of blowing-ups \(X \leftarrow \cdots X_s\) where \(F_i(X_s)=\emptyset\). This is equally true in the general case (where the embedding is étale local only), but this requires some extra work. Resolution for Rees algebras is available in characteristic zero, as proved by the author in previous papers. To prove the mentioned Representation Theorem one is reduced to an affine situation, \(X' = \mathrm{Spec}(B)\). The main technique is to consider a ``general'' finite surjective projection \(X' \to V\), with \(V=\mathrm{Spec} (S)\) affine, regular (more precisely, a \textit{transversal} projection, something defined in the paper). That is, algebraically we have a finite inclusion of rings \(S \subset B\), satisfying certain conditions. Thus, \(B=S[\theta_1, \ldots, \theta_m]\), and each \(\theta _i\) satisfies a minimal polynomial \(f_i\) with coefficients in \(S\). The construction of \(\mathcal G\) involves classical elimination theory applied to the polynomials \(f_i\). Although this is applied to algebraic schemes over a perfect field, most of this algebraic work (which takes a good part of the article) is done in a more general setting. There is an alternative version of the representation theorem, involving (in the notation above) hypersurfaces of \(W\) rather than Rees algebras. Using these techniques the author gives new proofs of the basic results on multiplicity mentioned before. The author also presents other interesting theorems. For instance, he shows that if \(X\) is a (not necessarily reduced) algebraic scheme, then the equimultiple stratifications of \(X\) and of \(X_{\mathrm{red}}\) coincide (both are partitions of the topological space \(|X|=|X_{\mathrm{red}}|\)). From this point of view, the analog of a regular variety in the case of a non-reduced algebraic scheme \(X\) is to require that there be a unique nonempty stratum in the equimultiple stratification of \(X\). The author shows that, in characteristic zero, in this sense resolution of singularities is also available for general algebraic schemes.