Log-terminal smoothings of graded normal surface singularities (Q376663)

If the 3-dimensional total space \(\mathcal X\) of a smoothing of a \(\mathbb Q\)-Gorenstein normal surface singularity has itself \(K_{\mathcal X}\) \(\mathbb Q\)-Cartier, it does not follow that \(\mathcal X\) is \(\mathbb Q\)-Gorenstein, as it need not be Cohen-Macaulay. The author proves that \(\mu=0\) smoothings of weighted homogeneous surface singularities are \(\mathbb Q\)-Gorenstein by proving a stronger result. In this case the smoothing occurs over a 1-dimensional smoothing component of the versal deformation and its total space is shown to be log-terminal. The proof uses a weighted discrepancy and a coarse classification of the singularities in question. The last section gives a criterion for a graded normal surface singularity to be \(\mathbb Q\)-Gorenstein.