Let $(V,p)$ be a complex isolated complete intersection singularity germ (an ICIS). It is well-known that its Milnor number $\mu$ can be expressed as the difference:
$$\mu = (-1)^n ({\rm Ind}_{GSV}(v;V) - {\rm Ind}_{rad}(v;V)) \;,$$
where $v$ is a continuous vector field on $V$ with an isolated singularity at $p$, the first of these indices is the GSV index and the latter is the Schwartz (or radial) index. This is independent of the choice of $v$.
In this talk we will review how this formula extends to compact varieties with non-isolated singularities. This depends on two different ways of extending the notion of Chern classes to singular varieties. On elf these are the Fulton-Johnson classes, whose 0-degree term coincides with the total GSV-Index, while the others are the Schwartz-McPherson classes, whose 0-degree term is the total radial index, and it coincides with the Euler characteristic. This yields to the well known notion of Milnor classes, which extend the Milnor number. We will discuss some geometric facts about the Milnor classes.[-]

The Jacobian algebra, obtained from the ring of germs of functions modulo the partial derivatives of a function $f$ with an isolated singularity, has a non-degenerate bilinear form, Grothendieck Residue, for which multiplication by $f$ is a symmetric nilpotent operator. The vanishing cohomology of the Milnor Fibre has a bilinear form induced by cup product for which the nilpotent operator $N$, the logarithm of the unipotent part of the monodromy, is antisymmetric. Using the nilpotent operators we obtain primitive parts of the bilinear form and we compare both bilinear forms. In particular, over $\mathbb{R}$, we obtain signatures of these primitive forms, that we compare.[-]

This talk will describe ongoing joint work with Paul Cadman and Duco van Straten, based on the PhD thesis of the former. Givental and Varchenko used the period mapping to pull back the intersection form on the Milnor fibre of an irreducible plane curve singularity $C$, and thereby define a symplectic structure on the base space of a miniversal deformation. We show how to combine this with a symmetric basis for the module of vector fields tangent to the discriminant, to produce involutive ideals $I_k$ which define the strata of parameter values $u$ such that $\delta(C_u)\leq k$. In the process we find an unexpected Lie algebra and a still mysterious canonical deformation of the module structure of the critical space over the discriminant. Much of this work is experimental - a crucial gap in understanding still needs bridging.[-]

We study germs of singular varieties in a symplectic space. We introduce the algebraic restrictions of differential forms to singular varieties and prove the generalization of Darboux-Givental' theorem from smooth submanifolds to arbitrary quasi-homogeneous varieties in a symplectic space. Using algebraic restrictions we introduce new symplectic invariants and explain their geometric meaning. We show that a quasi-homogeneous variety $N$ is contained in a non-singular Lagrangian submanifold if and only if the algebraic restriction of the symplectic form to $N$ vanishes. The method of algebraic restriction is a powerful tool for various classification problems in a symplectic space. We illustrate this by the construction of a complete system of invariants in the problem of classifying singularities of immersed $k$-dimensional submanifolds of a symplectic 2n-manifold at a generic double point.

Keywords: symplectic manifolds - symplectic multiplicity and other invariants - Darboux-Givental's theorem - quasi-homogeneous singularities - singularities of planar curves[-]

Pham and Teissier showed in the late 60's that any two plane curve germs with the same outer Lipschitz geometry have equivalent embeddings into $\mathbb{C}^2$. We consider to what extent the same holds in higher dimensions, giving examples of normal surface singularities which have the same topology and outer Lipschitz geometry but whose embeddings into $\mathbb{C}^3$ are topologically inequivalent. Joint work with Anne Pichon.

Keywords: bilipschitz - Lipschitz geometry - normal surface singularity - Zariski equisingularity - Lipschitz equisingularity[-]

The splice type singularities introduced in 2001 by Neumann and Wahl provide the largest class known so far of links of isolated complete intersection surface singularities which are integral homology spheres. These singularities are determined up to equisingularity by particular kinds of decorated trees, called splice diagrams. Neumann and Wahl formulated the so-called Milnor fiber conjecture, stating that any choice of an internal edge of a splice diagram determines a kind of four-dimensional decomposition of the Milnor fiber of the associated singularity. The aim of this course is to explain the structure of a proof of this conjecture, obtained in collaboration with Maria Angelica Cueto and Dmitry Stepanov. lt uses a combination of toric, tropical and logarithmic geometry. [-]

The splice type singularities introduced in 2001 by Neumann and Wahl provide the largest class known so far of links of isolated complete intersection surface singularities which are integral homology spheres. These singularities are determined up to equisingularity by particular kinds of decorated trees, called splice diagrams. Neumann and Wahl formulated the so-called Milnor fiber conjecture, stating that any choice of an internal edge of a splice diagram determines a kind of four-dimensional decomposition of the Milnor fiber of the associated singularity. The aim of this course is to explain the structure of a proof of this conjecture, obtained in collaboration with Maria Angelica Cueto and Dmitry Stepanov. lt uses a combination of toric, tropical and logarithmic geometry. [-]