The Poincaré Index on Singular Varieties

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss a few simple methods for computing the local topological index and its various analogs for vector fields and differential forms given on complex varieties with singularities of different types. They are based on properties of regular meromorphic and logarithmic differential forms, of the dualizing (canonical) module and related constructions. In particular, we show how to compute the index on Cohen–Macaulay, Gorenstein and monomial curves, on normal and non-normal surfaces and some others. In contrast with known traditional approaches, we use neither computers, nor integration, perturbations, deformations, resolution of singularities, spectral sequences or other related standard tools of pure mathematics.