On Alexander polynomials of torus curves (Q2583053)

Let \(p\) and \(q\) be integers such that \(p>q \geq 2\); torus curves of type \((p,q)\) and degree \(pq\) are curves \(C \subset \mathbb P^2\) defined by a polynomial of type \((f_q(x,y))^p +(f_p(x,y))^q\), where \(\deg f_i=i\). The geometry of such curves is strongly related to the geometry of the intersection of curves \(C_p:f_q(x,y)=0\) and \(C_q: f_p(x,y)=0\). A torus curve is said to be tame if its singular locus coincides with the intersection of the curves \(C_p\) and \(C_q\). In the present paper the authors study the case when \(C_p\) and \(C_q\) intersect transversally at one single point, using Alexander polynomials [see \textit{A. Libgober}, Duke Math. J. 49, 833--851 (1982; Zbl 0524.14026)]. Recall that two plane curves \(C_1,C_2\subset \mathbb P^2\) are called a Zariski pair if they have the same degree and the same homeomorphic tubular neighborhood in \(\mathbb P^2\), but the pairs \((\mathbb P^2,C_1)\) and \((\mathbb P^2,C_2)\) are not homeomorphic. Similarly a \(k\)-uple of plane curves \(\{C_1, \dots, C_k\}\) is a Zariski \(k\)-uple if each pair \(\{C_i, C_j\}\) is a Zariski pair. For any integer \(m\geq 1\), let \(\phi (m)\) be the number of strictly positive divisor of \(m\) (the Euler number of \(m\)). Given integers \(p,q\) such that \(p>q \geq 2\) and \(q\) divides \(p\), the authors' main result is to exhibit a Zariski \(\phi(q)\)-uple, distinguished by the Alexander polynomial, whose curves are tame torus curves of type \((p,q)\), with \(q\) smooth irreducible components of degree \(p\) and one single singular point topologically equivalent to the Brieskorn-Pham singularity \(v^p+u^{qp^2}=0\). The proof follows by an explicit calculation of Alexander polynomial, using a computational method deduced by the results of \textit{H. Esnault} [Invent. Math. 68, 477--496 (1982; Zbl 0475.14018)] and \textit{E. Artal} [J. Algebr. Geom. 3, 223--247 (1994; Zbl 0823.14013)], in terms of data coming from the resolution of singularities of the curve \(C\). It is also shown a new proof of the classical formula for Alexander polynomial of generic tame torus curves [see \textit{M. Oka}, Math. Ann. 218, 55--65 (1975; Zbl 0335.14005) and in: Franco-Japanese singularities. Proc. 2nd Franco-Japanese sing. conf., Marseille 2002, SMF, Séminaires et Congrès 10, 209--232 (2005; Zbl 1093.14037)].