These notes are based on a seminar which took place in the autumn of 2022 at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Leiden.
Its goal was to understand the recent work of J. Evans and Y. Lekili on the symplectic cohomology of the Milnor fiber for specific classes of isolated singularities. This work uses inputs from several fields, notably from algebraic geometry, in particular singularity theory, and from symplectic geometry. The main aim of the notes is to make the work of J. Evans and Y. Lekili more accessible by explaining the main ideas from these fields and indicate how these play a role in this work.
We study the local symplectic algebra of the 1-dimensional isolated complete intersection singularity of type Sμ. We use the method of algebraic restrictions to classify symplectic Sμ singularities. We distinguish these symplectic singularities by discrete symplectic invariants. We also give the geometric description of them.
We generalize a theorem of Delzant classifying compact connected symplectic manifolds with completely integrable torus actions to certain singular symplectic spaces. The assumption on singularities is that if they are not finite quotient then they are isolated.
First, we define phase tropical hypersurfaces in terms of a degeneration data of smooth complex algebraic hypersurfaces in $(\mathbb{C}^*)^n$. Next, we prove that complex hyperplanes are diffeomorphic to their degeneration called phase tropical hyperplanes. More generally, using Mikhalkin's decomposition into pairs-of-pants of smooth algebraic hypersurfaces, we show that phase tropical hypersurfaces with smooth tropicalization, possess naturally a smooth differentiable structure. Moreover, we prove that phase tropical hypersurfaces possess a natural symplectic structure.
We describe a variety of symplectic surgeries (not a priori compatible with Kahler structures) which are obtained by combining local Kahler degenerations and resolutions of singularities. The effect of the surgeries is to replace configurations of Lagrangian spheres with symplectic submanifolds. We discuss several examples in detail, relating them to existence questions for symplectic manifolds with $c_1>0, c_1=0, c_1<0$ in four and six dimensions.
Let $Y$ be a Plücker hypersurface in a symplectic Grassmannian $I_1 Gr(3,n)$ or a bisymplectic Grassmannian $I_2 Gr(3,n)$. We show that many Chow groups of $Y$ inject into cohomology.
We study versions of homological mirror symmetry for hypersurface cusp singularities and the three hypersurface simple elliptic singularities. We show that the Milnor fibres of each of these carries a distinguished Lefschetz fibration; its derived directed Fukaya category is equivalent to the derived category of coherent sheaves on a smooth rational surface $Y_{p,q,r}$. By using localization techniques on both sides, we get an isomorphism between the derived wrapped Fukaya category of the Milnor fibre and the derived category of coherent sheaves on a quasi-projective surface given by deleting …
We show that every indecomposable conical symplectic hypersurface of dimension four is isomorphic to the known one, namely, the Slodowy slice $X_n$ which is transversal to the nilpotent orbit of Jordan type $[2n-2, 1, 1]$ in the nilpotent cone of $\mathfrak{sp}_{2n}$ for some $n\ge 2$. In the appendix written by Yoshinori Namikawa, conical symplectic varieties of dimension two are classified by using contact Fano orbifolds.
We study the birational geometry of irreducible holomorphic symplectic varieties arising as varieties of lines of general cubic fourfolds containing a cubic scroll. We compute the ample and moving cones, and exhibit a birational automorphism of infinite order explaining the chamber decomposition of the moving cone.
We study the local symplectic algebra of curves. We use the method of algebraic restrictions to classify symplectic $W_8$ and $W_9$ singularities. We use discrete symplectic invariants to distinguish symplectic singularities of the curves. We also give the geometric description of symplectic classes.
Let $Y$ be a smooth hypersurface in a projective irreducible holomorphic symplectic manifold $X$ of dimension $2n$. The characteristic foliation $F$ is the kernel of the symplectic form restricted to $Y$. Assume that $X$ is equipped with a Lagrangian fibration $π:X\to B$ and $Y=π^{-1}D$, where $D$ is a hypersurface in $B$. It is easy to see that the leaves of $F$ are contained in the fibers of $π$. We prove that a very general leaf is Zariski dense in a fiber of $π$.
Using the semicontinuity of the Milnor number and the Łojasiewicz exponent, we give a simple proof of Yau's characterization of isolated homogenous hypersurface singularities.
In this paper the detailed classification of three-dimensional exceptional canonical hypersurface singularities which don't satisfy the condition of well-formedness is given. This result completes the classification of three-dimensional exceptional log canonical hypersurface singularities started in [4] (math.AG 0201025).
Using the path lattice cohomology we provide a conceptual topological characterization of the geometric genus for certain complex normal surface singularities with rational homology sphere links, which is uniformly valid for all superisolated and Newton non--degenerate hypersurface singularities.
Let Y be a hypersurface in a 2n-dimensional holomorphic symplectic manifold X. The restriction $σ|_Y$ of the holomorphic symplectic form induces a rank one foliation on Y. We investigate situations where this foliation has compact leaves; in such cases we obtain a space of leaves Y/F which has dimension 2n-2 and admits a holomorphic symplectic form.
We study the local symplectic algebra of the 0-dimensional isolated complete intersection singularities. We use the method of algebraic restrictions to classify these symplectic singularities. We show that there are non-trivial symplectic invariants in this classification.
The log canonical thresholds of irreducible quasi-ordinary hypersurface singularities are computed, using an explicit list of pole candidates for the motivic zeta function found by the last two authors.
We prove that a smooth surface, non of general type, in projective four-space, which lies on a quartic hypersurface with isolated singularities has degree at most 27 (in fact we prove a slightly more general result).
We prove a "strong" Durfee-type inequality for isolated hypersurface surface singularities, which implies Durfee's strong conjecture for such singularities with non-negative topological Euler number of the exceptional set of the minimal resolution.
C.T.C. Wall and the first author discovered an extension of Arnold's strange duality embracing on one hand series of bimodal hypersurface singularities and on the other, isolated complete intersection singularities. In this paper, we derive this duality from the mirror symmetry and the Berglund-Hübsch transposition of invertible polynomials.
This paper studies hypersurface exceptional singularities in $\mathbb C^n$ defined by non-degenerate function. For each canonical hypersurface singularity, there exists a weighted homogeneous singularity such that the former is exceptional if and only if the latter is exceptional. So we study the weighted homogeneous case and prove that the number of weights of weighted homogeneous exceptional singularities are finite. Then we determine all exceptional singularities of the Brieskorn type of dimension 3.
This text is the write-up of a series of lectures on the asymptotic mixed Hodge theory of isolated hypersurface singularities, held at the Third Latin American school on Algebraic Geometry and its applications (ELGA 3) in Guanajuato, Mexico, in august 2017. Its focus is on the classical application of the semi-continuity of the spectrum due to Varchenko and Steenbrink to the problem of bounding the possible singularities on a projective hypersurface.
We prove a formula for the polar degree of projective hypersurfaces in terms of the Milnor data of the singularities, extending to 1-dimensional singularities the Dimca-Papadima result for isolated singularities. We discuss the semi-continuity of the polar degree in deformations, and we classify the homaloidal cubic surfaces with 1-dimensional singular locus. Some open questions are pointed out along the way.
In this paper we give a positive answer to a question of Nash concerning the arc space of a singularity, for the class of quasi-ordinary hypersurface singularities, extending to this case previous results and techniques of Shihoko Ishii.
We give a survey on some aspects of the topological investigation of isolated singularities of complex hypersurfaces by means of Picard-Lefschetz theory. We focus on the concept of distinguished bases of vanishing cycles and the concept of monodromy.
We prove the uniqueness of crepant resolutions for some quotient singularities and for some nilpotent orbits. The finiteness of non-isomorphic symplectic resolutions for 4-dimenensional symplectic singularities is proved. We also give an example of symplectic singularity which admits two non-equivalent symplectic resolutions.
It is proved that a general Fano hypersurface of index 1 (in the projective space) with isolated singularities of general position is birationally rigid. Therefore it cannot be fibered into uniruled varieties of a smaller dimension by a rational map. The group of birational self-maps is either trivial or cyclic of order two.
Linearly projecting smooth projective varieties provides a method of obtaining hypersurfaces birational to the original varieties. We show that in low dimension, the resulting hypersurfaces only have Du Bois singularities. Moreover, we conclude that these Du Bois singularities are in fact semi log canonical. However, we demonstrate the existence of counterexamples in high dimension -- the generic linear projection of certain varieties of dimension 30 or higher is neither semi log canonical nor Du Bois.
This is a survey written in an expositional style on the topic of symplectic singularities and symplectic resolutions, which could also serve as an introduction to this subject.
We explore the existence of irreducible and reducible arc-sections in an irreducible hypersurface singularity germ along finite projections. In particular we provide examples of irreducible isolated hypersurface singularities for which no irreducible arc-sections exist, and show that reducible ones always exist. Moreover, we give an algorithm to check if a given projection allows irreducible arc-sections, and find them if they exist.
We show the existence of ($1+\frac{w_2}{w_3}$)-fast loops on semi-weighted homogeneous hypersurface singularities with weights $w_1\geq w_2>w_3$. In particular we show that semi-weighted homogeneous hypersurface singularities have metrical conical structure only if its two low weights are equal.
We give an upper bound for the minimal discrepancies of hypersurface singularities. As an application, we show that Shokurov's conjecture is true for log-terminal threefolds.
We introduce braid monodromy for the discriminant hypersurface in versal unfoldings of hypersurface singularities. Our objective is then to compute this invariant for singularities of Brieskorn Pham type: First we consider the unfolding by linear monomials in some detail and relate it to the versal unfolding. Next we present the A_n case in our framework. The two main chapters then provide the result in case of two variables and the inductive step to all higher dimensions. We finish with a presentation of the fundamental group of the discriminant complement.
Let $X$ be an irreducible holomorphic symplectic fourfold and $D$ a smooth hypersurface in $X$. It follows from a result by Amerik and Campana that the characteristic foliation (that is the foliation given by the kernel of the restriction of the symplectic form to $D$) is not algebraic unless $D$ is uniruled. Suppose now that the Zariski closure of its general leaf is a surface. We prove that $X$ has a lagrangian fibration and $D$ is the inverse image of a curve on its base.
We give some necessary conditions for the existence of a symplectic resolution for quotient singularities. The McKay correspondence is also worked out for these resolutions.
In this note we provide a formula for the Tjurina number of a join of isolated hypersurface singularities in separated variables. From this we are able to provide a characterization of isolated hypersurface singularities whose difference between the Milnor and Tjurina numbers is less or equal than two arising as the join of isolated hypersurface singularities in separated variables. Also, we are able to provide new upper bounds for the quotient of Milnor and Tjurina numbers of certain join of isolated hypersurface singularities. Finally, we deduce an upper bound for the quotient of Milnor and …
We give partial answers to a metric version of Zariski's multiplicity conjecture. In particular, we prove the multiplicity of complex analytic surface (not necessarily isolated) singularities in $\mathbb{C}^3$ is a bi-Lipschitz invariant.
Mather and Yau showed that an isolated complex hypersurface singularity is completely determined by its moduli algebra. It is shown, for the simple elliptic singularities, how to construct continuous invariants from the moduli algebras and, hence, associate invariants to the singularities themselves.
For a weighted quasihomogeneous two dimensional hypersurface singularity, we define a smoothing with unipotent monodromy and an isolated graded normal singularity. We study the natural weighted blow up of both the smoothing and the surface. In particular, we describe our construction for the quasihomogeneous singularities of type I, the 14 unimodal exceptional singularities and we relate it to their stable replacement.
We study the Milnor monodromies of non-isolated hypersurface singularities and show that the reduced cohomology groups of the Milnor fibers are concentrated in the middle degree for some eigenvalues of the monodromies. As an application of this result, we give an explicit formula for some parts of their Jordan normal forms.
We overview our recent work defining and studying normal crossings varieties and subvarieties in symplectic topology. This work answers a question of Gromov on the feasibility of introducing singular (sub)varieties into symplectic topology in the case of normal crossings singularities. It also provides a necessary and sufficient condition for smoothing normal crossings symplectic varieties. In addition, we explain some connections with other areas of mathematics and discuss a few directions for further research.
We establish birational superrigidity for a large class of singular projective Fano hypersurfaces of index one. In the special case of isolated singularities, our result applies for instance to: (1) hypersurfaces with semi-homogeneous singularities of multiplicity asymptotically bounded by twice the square root of the dimension of the hypersurface, (2) hypersurfaces with isolated singularities whose Tyurina numbers satisfy a similar bound, and (3) hypersurfaces with isolated singularities whose dual variety is a hypersurface of degree sufficiently close to the expected degree.
Let G be a finite group acting on a symplectic complex vector space V. Assume that the quotient V/G has a holomorphic symplectic resolution. We prove that G is generated by "symplectic reflectionsd"', i.e. symplectomorphisms with fixed space of codimension 2 in V. Symplectic resolutions are always semismall. A crepant resolution of V/G is always symplectic. We give a symplectic version of Nakamura conjectures.
We compute symplectic cohomology for Milnor fibres of certain compound Du Val singularities that admit small resolution by using homological mirror symmetry. Our computations suggest a new conjecture that the existence of a small resolution has strong implications for the symplectic cohomology and conversely. We also use our computations to give a contact invariant of the link of the singularities and thereby distinguish many contact structures on connected sums of $S^2 \times S^3$.
We introduce a Lie algebra of initial terms of logarithmic vector fields along a hypersurface singularity. Extending the formal structure theorem in [GS06, Thm. 5.4], we show that the completely reducible part of its linear projection lifts formally to a linear Lie algebra of logarithmic vector fields. For quasihomogeneous singularities, we prove convergence of this linearization. We relate our construction to the work of Hauser and M"uller [M"ul86, HM89] on Levi subgroups of automorphism groups of singularities, which proves convergence even for algebraic singularities. Based on the initial L…
Suppose that $f$ defines a singular, complex affine hypersurface. If the critical locus of $f$ is one-dimensional, we obtain new general bounds on the ranks of the homology groups of the Milnor fiber of $f$. This result has an interesting implication on the structure of the vanishing cycles in the category of perverse sheaves.
We discuss a particular class of rational Gorenstein singularities, which we call symplectic. A normal variety V has symplectic singularities if its smooth part carries a closed symplectic 2-form whose pull-back in any resolution X --> V extends to a holomorphic 2-form on X . Our main result is the classification of isolated symplectic singularities with smooth projective tangent cone. They are in one-to-one correspondence with simple complex Lie algebras: to a Lie algebra g corresponds the singularity at 0 of the closure of the minimal (nonzero) nilpotent adjoint orbit in g .
We prove that any symplectic Fano $6$-manifold $M$ with a Hamiltonian $S^1$-action is simply connected and satisfies $c_1 c_2(M)=24$. This is done by showing that the fixed submanifold $M_{\min}\subseteq M$ on which the Hamiltonian attains its minimum is diffeomorphic to either a del Pezzo surface, a $2$-sphere or a point. In the case when $\dim(M_{\min})=4$, we use the fact that symplectic Fano $4$-manifolds are symplectomorphic to del Pezzo surfaces. The case when $\dim(M_{\min})=2$ involves a study of $6$-dimensional Hamiltonian $S^1$-manifolds with $M_{\min}$ diffeomorphic to a surface of …
We introduce two generalizations of Newton-non-degenerate (Nnd) singularities of hypersurfaces. Roughly speaking, an isolated hypersurface singularity is called topologically Newton-non-degenerate (tNnd) if the local embedded topological singularity type can be restored from a collection of Newton diagrams (for some coordinate choices). A singularity that is not tNnd is called essentially Newton-degenerate. For plane curves we give an explicit characterization of tNnd singularities; for hypersurfaces we provide several examples. Next, we treat the question: whether Nnd or tNnd is a property of…
