On a quadratic form associated with a surface automorphism and its applications to singularity theory

Singularities in algebraic geometry (14B05) Singularities of surfaces or higher-dimensional varieties (14J17) Automorphisms of surfaces and higher-dimensional varieties (14J50) Local complex singularities (32S05) Complex surface and hypersurface singularities (32S25)

Abstract: We study the nilpotent part

N^{'}

of a pseudo-periodic automorphism

h

of a real oriented surface with boundary

S i g m a

. We associate a quadratic form

Q

defined on the first homology group (relative to the boundary) of the surface

S i g m a

. Using the twist formula and techniques from mapping class group theory, we prove that the form

i l d e Q

obtained after killing

k e r N

is positive definite if all the screw numbers associated with certain orbits of annuli are positive. We also prove that the restriction of

i l d e Q

to the absolute homology group of

S i g m a

is even whenever the quotient of the Nielsen-Thurston graph under the action of the automorphism is a tree. The case of monodromy automorphisms of Milnor fibers

S i g m a = F

of germs of curves on normal surface singularities is discussed in detail, and the aforementioned results are specialized to such situation. Moreover, the form

i l d e Q

is computable in terms of the dual resolution or semistable reduction graph, as illustrated with several examples. Numerical invariants associated with

i l d e Q

are able to distinguish plane curve singularities with different topological types but same spectral pairs. Finally, we discuss a generic linear germ defined on a superisolated surface. In this case the plumbing graph is not a tree and the restriction of

i l d e Q

to the absolute monodromy of

S i g m a = F

is not even.

Review text

The authors study the nilpotent part of a pseudo-periodic automorphism \(h\) of a real oriented surface \(\Sigma\) with boundary \(\partial \Sigma\). Let \(e\) be the least common multiple of the orders of \(h\) restricted to each periodic piece. Consider the operator \(N\colon H_1(\Sigma,\partial \Sigma;\mathbb Z)\to H_1(\Sigma;\mathbb Z)\) defined by \(N([\gamma])=[h^e(\gamma)-\gamma]\). The quadratic form \(Q(v,w)=\langle Nv,w\rangle\) descends to a quadratic form \(\widetilde Q\) on \(H_1(\Sigma,\partial \Sigma;\mathbb Z)/\ker N\). A formula for \(Q\) is given, involving the so called screw numbers measuring the amount of rotation in the collection of annuli in the Nielsen-Thurston decomposition. The bilinear form \(\widetilde Q\) is positive definite if all the screw numbers associated to orbits of annuli whose core curves are non-nullhomotopic are positive. This condition is satisfied if \(h\) is the geometric monodromy of a reduced function \(f \colon (X, 0) \to (\mathbb C, 0) \) on a normal surface singularity. The screw numbers can then be computed in terms of the embedded resolution. Explicit computations and examples are given. Numerical invariants associated to \(\widetilde Q\) are able to distinguish the examples of pairs of plane curve singularities with different topological type but same spectral pairs, due to \textit{R. Schrauwen} et al. [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 53, 305--328 (1991; Zbl 0749.14003)]. The form \(\widetilde Q\) is also computed for the two infinite families of reducible plane singularities that are not topologically equivalent but have the same Seifert form given by \textit{P. Du Bois} and \textit{F. Michel} [J. Algebr. Geom. 3, No. 1, 1--38 (1994; Zbl 0810.32005)]. In that case \(\widetilde Q\) is always defined on an abelian group of rank 4; while this form is a weaker invariant than the Seifert form it is also much easier to compute.

Recommendations

Cites work

Cited in

(2)

This page was built for publication: On a quadratic form associated with a surface automorphism and its applications to singularity theory

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2673086)