On local models with special parahoric level structure (Q846227)

Consider a Shimura variety \(S\) with reflex field \(K\). For the study of arithmetic properties of \(S\) one wants to have to have a model over the ring of integers \(\mathcal{O}_E\), where \(E\) denotes the completion of \(K\) at a finite prime of residue characteristic \(p\). This model should be flat and have only mild singularities. For certain Shimura varieties of PEL type with parahoric level structure at \(p\), a model over \(\mathcal{O}_E\) can be given by posing the corresponding moduli problem over \(\mathcal{O}_E\). Such models has been introduced by \textit{M. Rapoport} and \textit{Th. Zink} [Period spaces for \(p\)-divisible groups. Annals of Mathematics Studies. 141. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press (1996; Zbl 0873.14039)]. Unfortunately, these models are not flat in general, not even topologically flat [\textit{G. Pappas}, J. Algebr. Geom. 9, No. 3, 577--605 (2000; Zbl 0978.14023)]. In a series of papers [J. Algebr. Geom. 12, No. 1, 107--145 (2003; Zbl 1063.14029), Duke Math. J. 127, No. 2, 193--250 (2005; Zbl 1126.14028), J. Inst. Math. Jussieu 8, No. 3, 507-564 (2009; Zbl 1185.14018)] \textit{G. Pappas} and \textit{M. Rapoport} defined and investigated several variants of these so-called naive local models more likely to be flat. The present paper (complementing [J. Inst. Math. Jussieu 8, No. 3, 507--564 (2009; Zbl 1185.14018)]) focuses on Shimura varieties associated to the group of unitary similitudes corresponding to a quadratic extension of \(\mathbb Q\) ramified at \(p\). In [Thm. 4.1, loc. cit.] it is proven that if one assumes the so-called coherence conjecture, the geometric special fibre of the local model is reduced. Further its irreducible components are shown to be normal and with only rational singularities. The main result in the paper at hand states -- without relying to the coherence conjecture -- that also for the only case of a special parahoric subgroup in the sense of Bruhat-Tits theory not treated in [loc. cit.] the special fibre of the local model is irreducible and reduced; further, the special fibre is normal, Frobenius split, and has only rational singularities. As a consequence, the corresponding Shimura variety has a normal \(p\)-adic model with only rational singularities. The proof if this result is split into several steps which describe the wedge local model of Rapoport and Pappas by translating the conditions that describe this model into matrix identities and studying the schemes defined in this way, which are open neighbourhoods of certain special points. Arguing by counting of dimensions, the author passes to the actual local model and proves his result.