New μ-Zariski pairs of surface singularities
Pith reviewed 2026-05-13 18:49 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Two surface singularities in C^3 share the same Milnor number but have non-homeomorphic links and are not Lê-Yomdin singularities.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
We give the first example of a μ-Zariski pair of surface singularities in C^3 that are not of Lê-Yomdin type.
What carries the argument
A μ-Zariski pair consisting of two explicit hypersurface equations whose Milnor numbers are equal yet whose links are not homeomorphic.
If this is right
- Topological classification of surface singularities must now account for non-Lê-Yomdin cases when Milnor numbers coincide.
- Similar pairs may exist among μ*-Zariski pairs and link-Zariski pairs outside the Lê-Yomdin family.
- Algorithms that rely on Lê-Yomdin assumptions to decide topological equivalence require additional checks.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- The construction technique might be adapted to produce μ-Zariski pairs in higher dimensions.
- One could test whether the same pair also forms an ordinary Zariski pair by comparing multiplicities.
- Computational packages for singularity invariants should be run on the explicit equations to confirm the non-Lê-Yomdin status independently.
Load-bearing premise
The two constructed singularities have identical Milnor numbers, non-homeomorphic links, and are verifiably not Lê-Yomdin singularities.
What would settle it
An independent computation showing that either singularity satisfies the Lê-Yomdin condition or that the two Milnor numbers differ would refute the claim.
Figures
read the original abstract
To the best of the authors' knowledge, all previously known examples of $\mu$-, $\mu^*$-, link-, or ordinary Zariski pairs of surface singularities in $\mathbb{C}^3$ consist of (possibly weighted) L\^e-Yomdin singularities. In this paper, we present an example of a $\mu$-Zariski pair involving surface singularities that are not of L\^e-Yomdin type.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript constructs an explicit example of a μ-Zariski pair of surface singularities in ℂ³: two hypersurface singularities given by concrete polynomials that share the same Milnor number μ but differ in their topological invariants (specifically, their links or Seifert forms), and it verifies that neither is of Lê-Yomdin type by exhaustive checking that no weight system renders the leading homogeneous parts quasihomogeneous.
Significance. If the explicit equations and direct verifications hold, the result supplies the first known μ-Zariski pair of surface singularities outside the Lê-Yomdin class. This enlarges the set of known examples and supplies a concrete test case for any future classification or conjecture relating Milnor numbers to topological equivalence for surface singularities.
minor comments (2)
- [§3] The explicit defining equations appear in §3; a short table comparing the computed Milnor numbers, the topological invariants that distinguish the pair, and the attempted weight systems would make the verification easier to follow without altering the argument.
- [§4] In the paragraph establishing the non-Lê-Yomdin property, the enumeration of weight systems is summarized; listing the finitely many candidate weights that were checked (or proving there are only finitely many to check) would strengthen the claim that the check is exhaustive.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the positive assessment of the manuscript, the recognition that our example supplies the first known μ-Zariski pair of surface singularities outside the Lê-Yomdin class, and the recommendation for minor revision. No major comments were raised in the report.
Circularity Check
No significant circularity
full rationale
The paper constructs explicit polynomial equations for two surface singularities in C^3, directly computes their Milnor numbers to confirm equality, verifies the required topological invariants differ to establish a μ-Zariski pair, and checks they are not Lê-Yomdin type by exhaustive examination of possible weight systems for quasihomogeneity of leading terms. All steps rely on explicit algebraic definitions and finite verification rather than any self-referential fitting, renaming, or load-bearing self-citation that reduces the claim to its inputs. The central result is therefore a concrete counterexample to a prior empirical pattern, fully self-contained against external benchmarks.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (1)
- standard math Standard definitions of μ-Zariski pairs, Lê-Yomdin singularities, and Milnor number in complex algebraic geometry
Reference graph
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