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Topics in equisingularity theory. (English) Zbl 1354.14002
IMPAN Lecture Notes 3. Warsaw: Polish Academy of Science, Institute of Mathematics (ISBN 978-83-86806-32-4/pbk). 100 p. (2016).
The book is based on a series of lectures on equisingularity theory given by the author about results of Zariski, Greuel, Lê, K. Saito, Teissier and many others related to Zariski’s multiplicity conjecture.
Let $$f_i:(\mathbb{C}^n,0)\to (\mathbb{C}, 0)$$ be germs of analytic functions, $$i=1,2$$. $$f_1$$ and $$f_2$$ are called topologically $$V$$-equivalent if there exist open neighbourhoods $$U_1, U_2$$ of $$0\in \mathbb{C}^n$$ and a homeomorphism $$\varphi:(U_2, 0)\to (U_1, 0)$$ such that $$f_i$$ is defined on $$U_i$$ and $$\varphi(V(f_2))\cap U_2=V(f_1)\cap U_1$$.
Zariski’s multiplicity conjecture states that $$f_1$$ and $$f_2$$ being topologically $$V$$-equivalent implies that the multiplicities $$\text{mult}_0(f_1)$$ and $$\text{mult}_0(f_2)$$ are equal. A family $$\{f_t\}$$ of germs of functions is weakly topologically $$V$$-equisingular if for all sufficiently small $$t$$, the function $$f_t$$ is topologically $$V$$-equivalent to $$f_0$$, $$t\in D$$ an open disc in $$\mathbb{C}$$. The family is called $$\mu$$-constant if the Milnor number of $$f_t$$ at $$0$$ is independent on $$t$$.
If $$n\neq 3$$ the family is $$\mu$$-constant if and only if it is weakly topologically $$V$$-equisingular. The conjecture that a $$\mu$$-constant family is equimultiple is still open, only proved in special cases.
The first chapter presents Ephraim’s homology approach to Zariskis conjecture. The second chapter introduces and studies the Lê number replacing the Milnor number for non-isolated singularities. Deformations with constant Milnor number are studied in chapter 3. It is proved that in the case $$n\neq 3$$ in a $$\mu$$-constant family $$\{f_t\}$$ the diffeomorphism type of the Milnor fibration of $$f_t$$ at $$0$$ is independent on $$t$$ (for small $$t$$) and the family is weakly topologically $$V$$-equisingular. Criteria for a family being $$\mu$$-constant are discussed. As a consequence Zariski’s conjecture is proved for quasihomogeneous polynomials.
In chapter 4 deformations with constant Lê number are studied. In chapter 5 equisingular deformations of aligned singularities (introduced by Massey) are investigated.

##### MSC:
 14-02 Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to algebraic geometry 14B05 Singularities in algebraic geometry 14B07 Deformations of singularities 14E15 Global theory and resolution of singularities (algebro-geometric aspects) 32S15 Equisingularity (topological and analytic) 32S55 Milnor fibration; relations with knot theory