The blow-up of a simple ideal (Q890647)

Let \((R,\mathfrak{m})\) be a two dimensional regular local ring with infinite residue field. The theory of complete (i.e., integrally closed) ideals in this setup was initiated by Zariski, with the initial motivation of studying under an algebraic perspective the problem of curves passing through a fixed set of points, with given multiplicities. Since then, several authors have worked on these and related aspects of the theory: for example, \textit{J. Lipman} [in: Algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, Vol. I, 203--231 (1988; Zbl 0693.13011)], \textit{S. D. Cutkosky} [Invent. Math. 98, No. 1, 59--74 (1989; Zbl 0715.13012)] and \textit{C. Huneke} [Publ., Math. Sci. Res. Inst. 15, 325--338 (1989; Zbl 0732.13007)], just to mention some. Let \(I\) be a complete simple residually rational \(\mathfrak{m}\)-primary ideal of \(R\). The main focus of this article is the study of the singular points of \(\Sigma = \text{Bl}_I(R)\), the blow-up of \(I\). The authors show that \(\Sigma\) has either one or two singular points, which in any case are rational singularities. The number of such singular points depends on whether the largest base point \(S_I\) of \(I\) is a free \(R\)-module or not. In addition, the authors compute the multiplicity of \(\Sigma\) at the singular point (respectively, points) in terms of certain non-simple ideal (respectively, ideals) adjacent to \(I\).