Index of singularities of real vector fields on singular hypersurfaces (Q2879068)

Let \(f : (\mathbb R^{n+1}, 0) \rightarrow (\mathbb R, 0)\) be a germ of analytic function with an algebraically isolated singularity at the origin and \(V\) an analytic vector field in \(\mathbb R^{n+1}\) having at most an algebraically isolated singularity at the origin as well. Assume that \(V\) is tangent to \(X = f^{-1}(0)\) at all the non-singular points, that is, \(V(f) = hf\) for some analytic function \(h.\) In other words, \(V\) is a logarithmic vector field along \(X\).NEWLINENEWLINEThe paper under review contains a didactic survey of earlier joint results of the author with collaborators concerning the computation of the GSV-index \(\text{Ind}_{X_\pm,0}(V)\) (see [\textit{X. Gómez-Mont} and \textit{P. Mardešić}, Ann. Inst. Fourier 47, No. 5, 1523--1539 (1997; Zbl 0891.32013)], [\textit{L. Giraldo} et al., Contemp. Math. 240, 175--182 (1999; Zbl 1113.32305)], etc.). In particular, it turns out that the index can be calculated as a combination of several terms each of which is determined by signature of certain bilinear form on a local algebra associated with the germ \(f\) and the vector field \(V.\) In conclusion, some open problems are briefly discussed.