Is there a notion of weak maximal contact in characteristic \(p>0\)? (Q428170)

In resolving singularities in characteristic zero, a key tool is the \textit{hypersurface of maximal contact}. For a variety \(X\), such a hypersurface is a regular closed lower dimensional subvariety \(H \subseteq X\) that has closely related singularities to those of your original variety. In particular, the reduction problem on \(X\) can be reduced to the reduction problem on \(H\). This sets up an induction on dimension which allows resolution of singularities to proceed. Unfortunately, hypersurfaces of maximal contact do not exist in characteristic \(p > 0\). This paper is devoted to exploring whether weaker notions of hypersurfaces of maximal contact might exist in characteristic \(p > 0\), notions which might be good enough to still allow an induction to proceed. In particular, several weaker notions are proposed and then are shown not to exist (even in low dimensions). To quote the article's conclusion ``for the moment, no reasonable notion of weak maximal contact is proposed''.