The number of equisingular moduli of a rational surface singularity

From MaRDI portal



Abstract: We consider a conjectured topological inequality for the number of equisingular moduli of a rational surface singularity, and prove it in some natural special cases. When the resolution dual graph is "sufficiently negative" (in a precise sense), we verify the inequality via an easy cohomological vanishing theorem, which implies that this number is computed simply from the graph (Theorem 3.10). To consider an important and less restrictive meaning of "sufficiently negative" requires a much more difficult "hard vanishing theorem" (Theorem 4.5), which is false in characteristic p. Theorem 7.9 verifies the conjectured inequality in this more general situation. As a corollary, we classify in characteristic p all taut singularities with reduced fundamental cycle (Theorem 9.2).


This paper proves a conjectured topological inequality for the number of equisingular moduli of a rational surface singularity in the case that the self-intersections of the components of the exceptional divisor on the minimal good resolution are sufficiently negative. More precisely, let \((X,E)\longrightarrow(V,0)\) be the minimal good resolution of a complex normal surface singularity and let \(S_X=(\Omega^1_X(\log E))^*\) be the bundle of logarithmic derivations. The author conjectured [Algebr. Geom. 2, No. 3, 315--331 (2015; Zbl 1322.14056)] that for general surface singularities \[ h^1(\mathcal{O}_X) - h^1(S_X) + h^1(\bigwedge^2S_X) \geq 0, \] with equality if and only if \((V,0)\) is quasi-homogeneous (if \((V,0)\) is not Gorenstein, otherwise the inequality is true with 1 on the right hand side). For a rational singularity the term \( h^1(S_X)\) measures the number of equisingular moduli and is difficult to compute. The next term equals \(h^1(-(K_X+E))\), the second plurigenus, and can be computed from the resolution graph. In the same paper the Rational Conjecture (i.e., the rational case of the general conjecture) was shown for star-shaped graphs. The \(h^1\) of the restrictions of the bundles involved to the exceptional set can be computed solely from the graph. If \((V,0)\) is not simple elliptic or a cusp, then \(h^1(\mathcal{O}_E) - h^1(S_X\otimes\mathcal{O}_E) + h^1(-(K_X+E)\otimes\mathcal{O}_E) =1-\delta\) with \(\delta=1\) for a star-shaped graph and \(0\) otherwise. So the inequality in the Main Conjecture holds when \(h^1(S_X)=h^1(S_X\otimes\mathcal{O}_E)\), e.g. if \(h^1(S_X(-E)) = 0\). If the \(-E_i\cdot E_i\) are big enough relative to the genus and valency of \(E_i\) for all \(i\), then such a cohomological vanishing result can be proved via so-called ``easy vanishing theorems of the author [Invent. Math. 31, 17--41 (1975; Zbl 0314.14010)]. To prove the Rational Conjecture in more cases, with weaker assumptions on \(-E_i\cdot E_i\) a ``hard vanishing theorem is needed, which is false in prime characteristic. The long argument involves a detailed study of maps between cohomology groups. To formulate one result, let \(t_i'\) denote the number of intersections with curves which are not end-curves. If for a rational singularity with reduced fundamental cycle \(-E_i\cdot E_i\geq t_i+t_i'-2\) for all \(i\), except for exactly one or exactly two separated by a string of rational curves \(-E_i\cdot E_i= t_i+t_i'-3\), then the Rational Conjecture holds. The computations allow to recover easily a part of Laufer's classification of taut singularities, namely those with reduced fundamental cycle. The methods of this paper enable one to extend this partial classification to characteristic \(p\).











This page was built for publication: The number of equisingular moduli of a rational surface singularity

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1692609)