On the number of generators of the module of derivations and multiplicity of certain rings (Q2425427)

This paper studies the generators of the module of derivations \(\text{Der}\, R\) of certain commutative rings \(R\) and also the multiplicity of certain rational surface singularities. Let \(\mu(\text{Der}\, R)\) denote the minimal number of generators required for \(\text{Der}\, R\), let \(e(R)\) denote the multiplicity of \(R\), and let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero. The authors' first main result says that if \(R = k[Y_1, Y_2]^G = k[x_1, \ldots, x_n]\) where \(G\subset GL_2(k)\) is a finite group having no non-trivial pseudo-reflections and if there an \(i\) for which \(\overline{x_i}\) is not a zero divisor in the associated graded ring of \(R\), then \(\mu(\text{Der}\, R)\leq 2e(\hat{R})+1\), where \(\hat{R}\) denotes the completion of \(R\) with respect to the irrelevant maximal ideal of \(R\). Furthermore they show that if \(G\subset GL_2(k)\) is a finite group which acts linearly on \(k[X_1, X_2]\), then \(\mu(\text{Der}\, k[X_1, X_2]^G)\leq 2|G|+1\). They then consider the conjecture that, for any rational surface singularity, we always have \(e(R)\leq |D_G(R)|\), where \(|D_G(R)|\) is the order of the divisor class group of \(R\). To this end, they show that if \((V, p)\) is a germ of a rational surface singularity which is either a quotient singularity or has multiplicity 3 or 4, then the multiplicity does not exceed \(|D_G(R)|\). They proceed to verify the conjecture for several other situations.