Formal deformations of covers: a local-global principle (Q2472735)

The authors continue their analysis of \(G\)-equivariant deformations. The smooth case was treated in [Invent. Math. 141, 195--238 (2000; Zbl 0993.14014)]. This paper deals with locally complete intersection. It turns out that the first-order infinitesimal deformations are governed by \(G\)-extension groups \(\text{Ext}^i_G(\Omega^1_{X/k},M)\) with \(i=1,2\). The situation is completely parallel to the case of infinitesimal deformations without group action. Ordinary and equivariant deformations are related by a spectral sequence involving group cohomology. The authors apply the general set-up in the following special case: Let \(C\) be a curve locally of complete intersection, \(G\) a finite group of automorphisms of the curve, and \(y_1,\ldots,y_n\in C/G\) the images of singular points or points with wild ramification, and choose preimages \(x_1,\ldots,x_n\in C\). The main result of this paper is that the obstructions to deform \(C\) equivariantly coincide with the obstructions to deform the local rings at \(x_i\in C\) equivariantly. The case of simple node singularities \(k[[x,y]]/(xy)\) is analyzed in detail. The whole paper is written in a clear, down-to-earth style.