Decompositions of the higher order polars of plane branches (Q516952)

Consider an algebroid plane curve \(f=f(x,y)=0\), where \(f \in k[[x,y]]\), the ring of formal power series in two variables, with \(k\) algebraically closed of zero characteristic. If \(k=\mathbb C\) we may assume \(f\) is convergent. The \(k\)-th polar of \(f=0\) is the curve \(\partial ^k f/ \partial y^k = 0\). To simplify, we shall write \(f_k:=\partial ^k f/ \partial y^k \). Polars in this sense have been studied by different authors. In particular, in [\textit{E. Casas-Alvero}, J. Algebra 240, No. 1, 326--337 (2001; Zbl 0985.14012)], where the author finds a decomposition of the \(k\)-th polar of \(f(x,y)=0\) (with \(f\) irreducible), involving a factorization of \(f_k\) as a product of not necessarily irreducible power series, having some interesting properties. Each such factor is called a \textit{bunch}. Each bunch is the product of all irreducible factors of \(f_k\) having the same contact value with \(f=0\). In the paper under review the authors refine the decomposition of Casas-Alvero. They prove that if \(\Gamma \in k[[x,y]]\) is a bunch of \(f_k\), then \(\Gamma = \Gamma _1 \Gamma_2\) (in \(k[[x,y]]\)). The factors of \(\Gamma_2\) are \textit{threshhold semiroots} of \(f\), a concept introduced by the authors, involving characteristic exponents of \(f\) and the notion of \textit{contact}. All the factors of \(\Gamma_2\) have the same characteristic exponents, which depend on the ones of \(f\) only. The remaining factors of \(\Gamma\) constitute \(\Gamma_1\). The presence of threshhold semiroots occurs only if \(k>1\), i.e., for higher-order polars. The authors hope that their refined decomposition will be helpful in the description of topological properties of the fibers of complex analytic morphisms, generalizing results of \textit{E. García Barroso} and \textit{B. Teissier} [Comment. Math. Helv. 74, No. 3, 398--418 (1999; Zbl 0956.32028)]. The paper is fairly self-contained, the authors review concepts such as characteristic numbers and exponents, contact of branches, etc. Several examples are discussed.