Semicontinuity of the complex singularity index (Q791719)

Let \(f:{\mathbb{C}}^ n,0\to {\mathbb{C}},0\) be a germ of a holomorphic function in an isolated critical point. Let \(\delta\) (t) be a family of cycles, vanishing in the critical point, \(\omega\) be a holomorphic differential n-form. Consider the function \(I(t)=\int_{\delta(t)}\omega /df,\) which is defined in a punctured neighbourhood of 0\(\in {\mathbb{C}}\). It is known that \(I(t)=\Sigma t^{\alpha}(h t)^ ka_{k\alpha}.\) The index of singularity of f is a small \(\alpha\) which appears in these expansions for different \(\delta\) (t), \(\omega\). It is proved that the index of singularity is lower semicontinuous for germs of functions of 1, 2 or 3 variables under deformations of germs. More generally the index is lower semicontinuous for germs with sufficiently degenerated critical points. Recently Steenbrink extended the statement and proved semicontinuity for all germs [see \textit{J. Steenbrink}, ''Semicontinuity of the singularity spectrum'', Preprint 23, Math. Inst., Univ. Leiden, 1-9 (1983) and the author, ''The spectrum and decompositions of a critical point of a function'', Sov. Math., Dokl. 27, 575-579 (1983), ''On semicontinuity of the spectrum and an upper estimate for the number of singular points of a projective hypersurface'', ibid. 735-739 (1983), and ''Asymptotics of integrals and Hodge structures'' (Russian), Itogi Nauki Tekh., Ser. Sovrem. Probl. Mat. 22, 130-166 (1983)].