On the topology of surface singularities \(\{z^n=f(x,y)\}\), for \(f\) irreducible (Q977110)

\textit{W. D. Neumann} and \textit{J. Wahl} proved in [Comment. Math. Helv. 65, No. 1, 58--78 (1990; Zbl 0704.57007) and Geom. Topol. 9, 757--811 (2005; Zbl 1087.32018)] that every surface singularity of the form \(f(x,y)=z^n\), whose link has the integral homology of a sphere, is analytically equivalent to a splice singularity. They also characterized such singularities among all singularities of the form \(f(x,y)=z^n\) in terms of their topological pairs. Since, by \textit{R. Mendris} and \textit{A. Némethi} [Compos. Math. 141, No.~2, 502--524 (2005; Zbl 1077.32016)], singularities of the form \(f(x,y)=z^n\) with rational homology sphere links are much more frequent, one could wonder if all or, at least, many of them are equivalent to splice quotient singularities. The answer is ``not at all'', as demonstrated in the present paper by characterizing all singularities of the form \(f(x,y)=z^n\), whose links are rational homology spheres, and whose topological types are those of splice quotient singularities.