Multiplicities and log canonical threshold (Q4831702)

Let \(X\) be a smooth algebraic variety, \(Y\subset X\) a closed subscheme, and \(Z\) an irreducible component of \(Y\) of codimension \(n\). To the ideal \(I\subset {\mathcal O}_{X,Z}\) defining \(Y\) one can naturally associate two invariants. The first one is the classical Samuel multiplicity \(e(I)\) of \({\mathcal O}_{X,Z}\) along \(I\). The second one is the log canonical threshold \(\text{lc}(I)\), given as the maximum of the log canonical thresholds \(\text{lc}(U,U\cap Y)\) of pairs \((U,U\cap Y)\) with \(U\subset X\) open and \(U\cap Z\neq \emptyset\) [cf. \textit{J. Kollár}, in: Algebraic geometry, Proc. Summer Res. Inst., Santa Cruz 1995, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 62, 221--287 (1997; Zbl 0905.14002)]. In the paper under review, the authors relate both invariants and obtain the following estimate. Theorem 1. \(e(I)\geq\frac{n^n}{\text{lc}(I)^n}\), and equality holds exactly if the integral closure of \(I\) is a power of the maximal ideal in \({\mathcal O}_{X,Z}\). In the case \(n=2\), a stronger result holds without the assuming that \(Z\) is a component of \(Y\). Theorem 2. Let \(Z\subset X\) be a closed and irreducible of codimsion 2, contained in \(\text{supp}(Y)\). If \(e_1(I)\) and \(e_2(I)\) are the Segre numbers of \({\mathcal O}_{X,Z}\) along \(I\), then \(\frac{4}{\text{lc}(I)}e_1(I)+e_2(I)\geq\frac{4}{\text{lc}(I)^2}\).