Cohomological Hasse principle and resolution of quotient singularities (Q374089)

Let \(G\) be a finite group acting on a quasi-projective smooth scheme \(X\) over a field \(k\). Suppose that \(g:\tilde{Y}\to X/G\) is a resolution of singularities of \(X/G\). Then by the McKay principal many aspects of the geometry of \(\tilde{Y}\) is reflected in the \(G\)-equivariant geometry of \(X\). Assume that \(E=g^{-1}(Z)_{\text{red}}\) where \(Z \subset X/G\) is the singular locus is a divisor with simple normal crossing. Denote by \(\Gamma(E)\) the dual complex associated to \(E\). For example, in the case of the Klein singularity \(\mathbb{C}^2/G\), \(\Gamma(E)\) is one of the ADE Dynkin diagrams. The paper under review studies the homotopy type of \(\Gamma(E)\) which is known to be independent of the choice of the resolution. To express the result let \(\pi:X\to X/G\) be the projection, \(T=g^{-1}(Z)_{\text{red}}\), and \(f:\tilde{X}\to X\) be a proper birational \(G\)-equivariant morphism such that \(\tilde{X}\) is a smooth \(G\)-scheme and \(E_T=f^{-1}(T)_{\text{red}}\) is a \(G\)-strict simple normal crossing divisor and \(f\) is an isomorphism over \(X-T\). The main result of the paper under review proves that if \(k\) is perfect with characteristic zero, then there is a canonical map \(\phi: \Gamma(E_T)/G\to \Gamma(E)\) in the homotopy category of \(CW\)-complexes which induces isomorphisms on the homology and fundamental groups. This result has important implications such as 1) \(\Gamma(E_T)/G\) is contractible \(\Rightarrow\) \(\Gamma(E)\) is contractible. 2) \(X/G\) have isolated singularities \(\Rightarrow\) T is smooth \(\Rightarrow\) \(\Gamma(E)\) is contractible. The question of the contractibility of \(\Gamma(E)\) is very important, for example if \(X/G\) has rational singularities then \(\Gamma(E)\) is contractible. The proof of the main result regarding the fundamental group uses a geometric interpretation of the fundamental group by means of the classifying group of \(cs\)-coverings of \(E\). And regarding the homology groups the proof is based on an equivariant weight homology theory introduced in the paper under review, and proving an analog of McKay principal for this weight homology. The proof of the latter relies on introducing another (arithmetic) homology theory in the paper under review called equivariant Kato homology. The other ingredients of the proof are cohomological Hasse principal, Deligne's theorem on Weil conjecture and Gabber's refinement of De Jong's alteration theorem.