Hartogs extension theorems on Stein spaces (Q601114)

The (classical) Hartogs extension theorem reads: Let \(\Omega\) be a domain in \(\mathbb C^n\), \(n>1\). Let \(K\subset \Omega\) be a compact set such that \(\Omega\setminus K\) is connected. Then any holomorphic function on \(\Omega\setminus K\) can be extended in a unique way to the whole of \(\Omega\) as a holomorphic function. This is not unconditionally true for Stein spaces, as the following example of Harvey (discussed in the reviewed paper) shows. Consider the mapping \(f:\mathbb C^2\to\mathbb C^4\) described by \(f(x,y)=(x^2,x^3,y,xy)\). The image \(X:=f(\mathbb C^2)\) is a Stein surface in \(\mathbb C^4\) with isolated singularity at \(0\). One cannot, however, extend the holomorphic function \[ g(z_1,z_2,z_3,z_4)=\binom{ \frac{z_2}{z_1}\text{ if } z_1\neq 0}{ \frac{z_4}{z_3}\text{ if } z_3\neq 0 } \] through the origin in \(X\). The authors investigate various conditions that imply the Hartogs extension theorem for Stein spaces and study the equivalence between them. Finally, a new proof of the extension theorem using the \(\overline\partial\) technique is provided. The proof essentially follows the well-known proof of Ehrenpreis; however, the new setting requires the development of \(\bar\partial\)-theory on singular Stein spaces. Similar results were obtained by \textit{M. Andersson} and \textit{H. Samuelsson} by using residue theory calculus [see ``Koppelman formulas and the \(\overline\partial\)-equation on an analytic space'', \url{arXiv:0801.071003}] and in the setting of \((n-1)\)-complete spaces by \textit{M. Colţoiu} and \textit{J. Ruppenthal} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 637, 41--47 (2009; Zbl 1186.32001)]. The paper is well written and contains much useful introductory material.