THOM-SEBASTIANI THEOREM FOR MULTIPLIER IDEALS

arXiv:1610.07295v1 [math.AG] 24 Oct 2016

LAURENTIU MAXIM, MORIHIKO SAITO, AND JORG

SCHURMANN
Abstract. We present a relatively simple proof of the Thom-Sebastiani type theorem for
underlying filtered D-modules in the constant Hodge module case where algebraic partial
microlocalization is used. There is a well-known relation between multiplier ideals and V filtrations of KashiwaraMalgrange, and the above argument implies a Thom-Sebastiani
type theorem for multiplier ideals, which cannot be deduced from the proof of the ThomSebastiani theorem for general mixed Hodge modules.

Introduction
For a = 1, 2, let Ya be a smooth complex variety or a connected complex manifold. Set
Xa := fa1 (0) with fa a non-constant function on Ya (that is, fa (Ya , OYa ) \ C). Put
Y := Y1 Y2 ,

X := f 1 (0) Y

with f := f1 + f2 on Y.

For Q, we have a decreasing sequence of the multiplier ideals J (X) OY together

with their graded quotients G(X), and similarly for J (Xa ), G(Xa ) with a = 1, 2 (see
[La], [Na] and also (2.1) below). Set a := Sing Xa , := Sing X. In this paper we prove
the following.
Theorem 1. In the above notation, we have the equalities for (0, 1) :
P
(1)
J (X) = 1 +2 = J (1 X1 ) J (2 X2 ) in OY = OY1 OY2 ,

together with the canonical isomorphisms of OX -modules for (0, 1) :

P
(2)
G(X) = 1 +2 = G(1 X1 ) G(2 X2 ),

by replacing (if necessary) Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa in Ya (a = 1, 2) so that

= 1 2 .
Here we may assume 1 , 2 (0, ) on the right-hand side of (1), (2). The formula (1)
determines J (X) for any Q, since it is well known (and is easy to show) that
(3)

J (( + 1)X) = f J (X) ( > 0),

J (X) = OY ( 6 0),

see (2.1.2) below. The formula (2) for = 1 is more complicated (see Corollary (2.4) below),
since it is closely related to the irrationality of the singularities of X, see a remark after
(2.1.9) below.
We define the set of jumping coefficients JC(f ) and the log canonical threshold lct(f ) by
JC(f ) := { Q | G(X) 6= 0},

lct(f ) := min JC(f ),

and similarly for JC(fa ), lct(fa ) (a = 1, 2). From Theorem 1 we can deduce the following
addition theorem for jumping coefficients and log canonical thresholds.
Corollary 1. In the above notation, we have the equalities


(4)
JC(f ) (0, 1) = JC(f1 ) + JC(f2 ) (0, 1),


(5)
lct(f ) = min 1, lct(f1 ) + lct(f2 ) ,

by replacing (if necessary) Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa (a = 1, 2) so that = 1 2 .

1

L. MAXIM, M. SAITO, AND J. SCHURMANN

Note that JC(f ) is determined by (4) together with (3) (see also (2.1.5) below), since
we have 1 JC(f ) by looking at the smooth points of X. Note also that Theorem 1
and Corollary 1 in the non-degenerate Newton boundary case are already well-known to
specialists, see Remark (2.7) below.
Theorem 1 is obtained as a by-product of a proof of the Thom-Sebastiani theorem for
underlying filtered D-modules in the constant coefficient case using the algebraic partial
microlocalization, where a well-known relation between the multiplier ideals and the V filtration of Kashiwara [Ka2] and Malgrange [Ma2] is also used, see [BuSa, Theorem 0.1] and
also (2.1.6) below. (Note that the equality (1) in Theorem 1 cannot be deduced from the
arguments in [Sa6].) Let if : X Y be the graph embedding by f . Set
(Bf , F ) := (if )D (OX , F ),
where (if )D is the direct image as filtered D-module and the Hodge filtration F is indexed
as in the right D-module case, see for instance [MaSaSc, Section 1.2], [Sa7, Section B.3]. It
has the filtration V of Kashiwara [Ka2] and Malgrange [Ma2] indexed decreasingly by Q so
that t t is nilpotent on GrV Bf , see [Sa2]. Setting e() := exp(2i), we define the
e()-eigenspace of the filtered vanishing cycle functor for (1, 0] by
(
GrV (Bf , F [1]) if (1, 0),
()
f (OY , F ) :=
Gr1
if = 0,
V (Bf , F )
L
()
so that
(1,0] f (OY , F ) is the underlying F -filtered DY -module of the mixed Hodge
module of vanishing cycles (see [Sa2], [Sa3]), which is denoted by f Qh,Y [dY 1] in this
paper. There are canonical isomorphisms
()

DR(f OY ) = f,e() CY [dY 1],

where dY := dim Y , and f,e() denotes the e()-eigenspace of the vanishing cycle functor
()
for C-complexes [De]. (Similarly for fa (OYa , F ) with a = 1, 2.)
We give a relatively simple proof of the Thom-Sebastiani theorem for underlying filtered
D-modules in the constant Hodge module case as follows (see Theorem (1.2) below):
Theorem 2. In the above notation, there are canonical isomorphisms of filtered DY -modules
for (1, 0] :
L
()
( )
( )
f (OY , F ) = 1 > f1 1 (OY1 , F ) f2 1 (OY2 , F )
(6)
L
(1 )
(11 )

(OY2 , F [1]),
1 < f1 (OY1 , F ) f2
by replacing (if necessary) Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa (a = 1, 2) so that = 1 2 .

More precisely, 1 on the right-hand side of (6) is contained in (1, 0] [, + 1) or in

(1, 0] [ 1, ), see (1.2.2) below. (Note that Theorem 2 also follows from [Sa6].)
For the proof of Theorem 2, we use the algebraic partial microlocalization Befa , Bef of Bfa ,
Bf with respect to the action of t , which was introduced in [Sa5]. This implies the microlocal
V -filtration on Befa , Bef , and its induced filtration on the structure sheaf OY , OYa gives the
microlocal multiplier ideals Je(X), Je(Xa ), which coincide with the usual multiplier ideals
J (X), J (Xa ) for < 1, see (2.1) below. We then get the Thom-Sebastiani theorem for
microlocal multiplier ideals which holds for any Q (see Theorem (2.2) below), and this
implies Theorem 1 by restricting to < 1.
As another application of Theorem 2, we have a Thom-Sebastiani Theorem for spectral
Hirzebruch-Milnor classes [MaSaSc], which can be viewed as a global analogue of a similar

THOM-SEBASTIANI THEOREM

assertion for the Steenbrink spectrum of hypersurface singularities, which follows from [ScSt],
[Va] in the isolated hypersurface singularity case, and from [Sa6] or Theorem 2 in general.
The first named author is partially supported by NSF and NSA. The second named author
is partially supported by Kakenhi 15K04816. The third named author is supported by the
SFB 878 groups, geometry and actions.
In Section 1 we first explain algebraic partial microlocalization together with microlocal
V -filtration, and then prove Theorem 2 by showing Theorem (1.2) below. In Section 2 we
prove the Thom-Sebastiani type theorem for microlocal multiplier ideals in Theorem (2.2)
below.
1. Thom-Sebastiani theorem
In this section we first explain algebraic partial microlocalization together with microlocal
V -filtration, and then prove Theorem 2 by showing Theorem (1.2) below.
1.1. Algebraic microlocalization. Let Y be a smooth complex algebraic variety (or a
connected complex manifold) with f a non-constant function on Y , that is f (Y, OY ) \ C.
Let if : Y Y C be the graph embedding by f , and t be the coordinate of the second
factor of Y C. Set
(Bf , F ) := (if )D
(OY , F ) = (OY [t ], F [dY ]),
with dY := dim Y (and F [m]p = F [m]p = F mp = Fpm in general). Here (if )D
is the direct
image of filtered D-modules, and the filtration F is indexed as in the right D-module case, see
for instance [MaSaSc, Section 1.2], [Sa7, Section B.3]. (This does not cause a problem when
we use the de Rham functor DR, see for instance [MaSaSc, 1.2.2].) The last isomorphism is
as filtered OY [t ]-modules, and the sheaf-theoretic direct image (if ) is omitted to simplify
the notation. The actions of t and yi with yi local coordinates of Y are given by
(1.1.1)

t(g tj ) = f g tj jg tj1 ,
yi (g tj ) = (yi g) tj (yi f )g tj+1

(g OY ).

Here g tj is actually identified with g tj (t f ), where

 1 
1
(t f ) := tf
OY C tf
/OY C .

Note that (t f ) is also identified with f s (and t t with s), see for instance [Ma2].
By definition we have the isomorphisms
(
OY tp+dY if p > dY ,
F
(1.1.2)
Grp Bf =
0
otherwise.
Let Bef be the algebraic microlocalization of Bf (see [Sa5]), that is,

(1.1.3)

(Bef , F ) = (OY [t , t1 ], F [dY ]) so that GrFp Bef = OY tp+dY

(p Z).

Let V be the microlocal V -filtration on Bef along t = 0, see [Sa5]. This is obtained by
modifying the V -filtration of Kashiwara [Ka2] and Malgrange [Ma2] on Bf . It is an exhaustive
decreasing filtration indexed discretely by Q and satisfying the properties as below, and
moreover it is uniquely determined by them.
(a) The V Bef are finitely generated over DY [t1 ] ( Q).

(b) t(V Bef ) V +1 Bef , t (V Bef ) = V 1 Bef ( Q).

L. MAXIM, M. SAITO, AND J. SCHURMANN

(c) The action of t t on GrV Bef is nilpotent ( Q).

The property (a) follows from the assertion that DY [s]f s is locally finitely generated over
DY (more precisely, it is subholonomic, see [Ka1]). Indeed, the latter property implies
that the V Bf are also locally finitely generated over DY . (Here it is also possible to use
[Sa2, 3.2.1.2] together with Nakayamas lemma, since any element of Bf is annihilated by a
sufficiently high power of t f .)
By the construction in [Sa5] there are canonical isomorphisms

(1.1.4)
can : Gr (Bf , F ) Gr (Bef , F )
( < 1),
V

(1.1.5)

tk : (Bef ; F, V ) (Bef ; F [k], V [k])

(k Z).

Note that the morphism can in (1.1.4) for = 1 is strictly surjective by [Sa2, Lemma 5.1.4
and Proposition 5.1.14]. Indeed, by setting
X := f 1 (0) Y,
the morphism can in (1.1.4) for = 1 is identified with the underlying morphism of filtered
DY -modules of the morphism can in the short exact sequence of mixed Hodge modules [Sa3]
(1.1.6)

can

0 Qh,X [dX ] f,1 Qh,Y [dX ] f,1 Qh,Y [dX ] 0.

Here
Qh,X := aX Q D b MHM(X),
with aX : X pt the structure morphism (similarly for Qh,Y ), and f,1 , f,1 are the
unipotent monodromy part of the nearby and vanishing cycles functors [De]. More generally,
f, , f, for C can be defined for the underlying C-complexes by using Ker(Ts )
with Ts the semisimple part of the monodromy. (Note that the nearby and vanishing cycle
functors preserve mixed Hodge modules up to the shift of complex by 1 in this paper.)
By (1.1.45) we have the canonical isomorphisms for any Q
(1.1.7)
DRY (Gr Bef ) = f,e() CY [dX ],
V

where e() := exp(2i). (The left-hand side is the de Rham complex associated with
the DY -module GrV Bef which is viewed as an OY -module having an integrable connection,
and it is shifted by the dimension of Y to the left.) Indeed, (1.1.7) is well-known for Bf ,
instead of Bef , if [0, 1) (but not (0, 1]). Then it holds for Bef and for any Q by
(1.1.45).
Consider the vanishing cycle mixed Hodge module
f Qh,Y [dX ].

Its underlying filtered D-module can be given by

L
e
(1.1.8)
(1,0] GrV (Bf , F ),

Here the filtration F is not shifted, although it is shifted by 1 if we use GrV Bef for (0, 1]
instead of (1, 0]. If fact, if we use Bf instead of Bef in (1.1.8), then we get the nearby
cycle functor f instead of the vanishing cycle functor f , and the filtration F is shifted
by 1, where (0, 1] (which corresponds to the so-called lower extension), see [Sa2,
5.1.3.3]. This implies a similar assertion for Bef , since the morphism can in (1.1.4) induces
an isomorphism or a surjection for (0, 1]. Thus there is no shift of the filtration F
in (1.1.8) by using (1.1.5) for j = 1. (In this section, we index the filtration F like right
D-modules as is explained before (1.1.2), and V is indexed increasingly so that V = V

THOM-SEBASTIANI THEOREM

and GrV = Gr
V . In the case = 0, the above definition of the filtration F on the vanishing
cycle mixed Hodge module is compatible with the original definition of in [Sa2, 5.1.3.3].)
In particular, we get for (1, 0]
GrFp GrV Bef = 0 (p < dX ).

(1.1.9)

For = 0, this uses the strict surjectivity of (1.1.4) for = 1. (This is closely related to the
strict negativity of the roots of b-functions, see [Ka1].)
We have a Thom-Sebastiani theorem as below. This is a special case of the assertion
mentioned in [Sa5, Remark 4.5], and also follows from [Sa6] (see also [DeLo], [GeLoMe] for
the motivic version, and [Ma1], [ScSt], [Va] for the isolated hypersurface singularity case).
We give here a relatively simple proof using algebraic partial microlocalization.
Theorem 1.2. Let Ya be a smooth complex algebraic variety (or a connected complex
manifold) with fa a non-constant function, that is, fa (Ya , OYa ) \ C, for a = 1, 2. Set
Y = Y1 Y2 with f = f1 + f2 . Then there are canonical isomorphisms of filtered DY -modules
for (1, 0] :
L
1 e
GrV (Bef , F ) = 1 I() GrV 1 (Bef1 , F ) Gr
(Bf2 , F )
V
(1.2.1)
L
1 e
11 e

(Bf2 , F [1]),
1 J() GrV (Bf1 , F ) GrV

by replacing Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa := fa1 (0) in Ya (a = 1, 2) if necessary,

where
I() := (1, 0] [, + 1)
J() := (1, 0] [ 1, ).
Note. Setting 2 = 1 , 2 = 1 1 , we have
(1.2.2)

1 I() 1 , 2 (1, 0],

1 J() 1 , 2 (1, 0].

Proof. Set a = Sing fa1 (0) (a = 1, 2). By replacing Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa
(a = 1, 2) if necessary, we may assume
Sing f 1 (0) = 1 2 .
Indeed, f 1 (0) is the inverse image of the anti-diagonal of C C by f1 f2 .
By [Sa5, Section 4.1] we have the short exact sequence
(1.2.3)

0 (Bef1 Bef2 ; F [1], V [1]) (Bef1 Bef2 ; F, V ) (Bef ; F, V ) 0,

where is defined by

t1 id id t2 ,

and by
Note that
(1.2.4)

g1 ti11 g2 ti21 := g1 g2 ti1 +i2

for ga OYa (a = 1, 2).

(Bef1 Bef2 ; F, V ) := (Bef1 ; F, V ) (Bef2 ; F, V ),

where the external product is taken as that of OYa -modules (a = 1, 2).

By (1.2.4) we have the following filtered isomorphisms (see Remark (1.3)(i) below):
L
1 e
(1.2.5)
GrV (Bef1 Bef2 , F ) 1 Q GrV 1 (Bef1 , F ) Gr
( Q).
(Bf2 , F )
V

By the definition of and by using (1.1.5) for j = 1, the filtered isomorphism (1.2.5) implies
the filtered isomorphism
L
1 e
(1.2.6)
(Coker GrV , F )
( Q),
(Bf2 , F )
= 1 (1,0] GrV 1 (Bef1 , F ) Gr
V

L. MAXIM, M. SAITO, AND J. SCHURMANN

where the left-hand side is defined to be a quotient of GrV (Bef1 Bef2 , F ).

We can verify that (1.2.3) induces an isomorphism of bi-filtered DY -modules

(Coker ; F, V ) (Bef ; F, V ),

(1.2.7)

which is also compatible with the action of t, t . Here the action of t and t on Coker is
defined respectively by t1 + t2 and either t1 or t2 (by the definition of ).
Indeed, the compatibility of the isomorphism (1.2.7) with F follows from the definition
(1.1.3). The compatibility with the filtration V is equivalent to that is strictly compatible
with the filtration V . By the uniqueness of the microlocal filtration V explained in (1.1),
this is also equivalent to that the quotient filtration V on Coker satisfies the conditions
of the microlocal V -filtration in (1.1). Here the finiteness condition (a) for Bef follows from
that for Befa . Condition (b) follows from the definition of the action of t, t explained above.
Condition (c) is verified also by using the definition of the action of t, t on the left-hand
side (especially t = t1 + t2 ). Thus (1.2.7) follows.
Using (1.2.5), we can prove that is bistrictly injective. This implies that the short exact
sequence (1.2.3) is bistrictly exact by using the theory of compatible filtrations in [Sa2,
Section 1]. So the cokernel commutes with GrV in a compatible way with the filtration F .
(This does not necessarily hold if is not bistrictly compatible with F, V .)
The assertion (1.2.1) now follows from (1.2.67). Indeed, (1.2.6) says that Coker GrV for
(1, 0] is given by the direct sum over the index set defined by the conditions:
1 (1, 0],

1 + 2 = (1, 0] with 2 := 1 ,

where 2 (1, 1), and does not necessarily belong to (1, 0]. However, the difference with
the union of the index sets of the direct sums in (1.2.1) (see also (1.2.2)) can be recovered by
using (1.1.5) for a = 2, j = 1, where we get the shift of F by 1 in the last term of (1.2.1).
Thus Theorem (1.2) follows.
Remarks 1.3. (i) The proof of (1.2.5) is not completely trivial, since we have to use
the assertion that the filtrations F , F (1) , F (2) , V , V(1) , V(2) on Bef1 Bef2 form compatible
filtrations in the sense of [Sa2, Section 1], where F (a) is induced by F on Befa , and similarly
for V(a) (a = 1, 2). Note that F is the convolution of F (1) , F (2) , and similarly for V , see
Remark (ii) below for convolution. We can prove the compatibility of the above six filtrations
by using [Sa2, Theorem 1.2.12]. Indeed, the compatibility of the four filtrations F (1) , F (2) ,
V(1) , V(2) follows from the definition, since the external product is an exact functor for both
factors. Then we can apply Remark (ii) below, and (1.2.5) follows by taking GrV(2) , since we
have the canonical isomorphisms
1
2
GrV(1)
GrV(2)
(Bef1 Bef2 ) = GrV 1 Bef1 GrV 2 Bef2 ,

which is compatible with the filtrations F (1) , F (2) .

In this case, however, there is an additional difficulty, since the filtration V does not satisfy

the condition V = 0 for 0 (and similarly for V(1)

, V(2)
). In order to avoid this problem,

we restrict to V(1) , and take the inductive limit for . Note that the induced filtration

V(2) on GrV V(1)

satisfies the above property (since V(2)
GrV V(1)
= 0 for > ).

(ii) In general, if there are compatible m filtrations F(1) , . . . , F(m) of an object M of an

abelian category A where the inductive limit over a directed set is always an exact functor
(for instance, the category of C-vector spaces), then we can show by using [Sa2, Theorem

THOM-SEBASTIANI THEOREM

1.2.12] that the m + 1 filtrations F(1,2) , F(1) , . . . , F(m) also form compatible filtrations of M,
where F(1,2) is the convolution of F(1) and F(2) , that is,
P
p
q
pq
F(1,2)
M = qZ F(1)
M F(2)
M.

This assertion can be reduced to the finite sum case by using an inductive limit argument
p
q
as above, and then to the finite filtration case (by replacing F(1)
, F(2)
with 0 for p, q 0).
Here we have the canonical isomorphisms
L
GrpF(1,2) M qZ GrqF(1) Grpq
F(2) M,
which is compatible with the filtrations F(i) (i > 2). This can be shown by using
pq
pq
q
p
p
Grpq
F(2) GrF(1,2) M = GrF(1,2) GrF(2) M = GrF(1) GrF(2) M,

where we need the abelian category containing the exact category of (m 2)-filtered objects
of A as in [Sa2, Sections 1.3.23].
(iii) In general the mixed Hodge modules are stable by [1], [1], and Theorem (1.2)
implies as is well-known (see [Mas], [Sch, Corollary 1.3.4 on p. 72]):
(1.3.1)

f CY = f1 CY1 f2 CY2 [1].

2. Application to multiplier ideals

In this section we prove the Thom-Sebastiani type theorem for microlocal multiplier ideals
in Theorem (2.2) below.
2.1. Multiplier ideals. Let Y be a smooth complex algebraic variety (or a connected
complex manifold), and f be a non-constant function on Y , that is, f (Y, OY ) \ C. Set
X := f 1 (0) Y . Let J (X) OY be the multiplier ideal of X with coefficient Q (or
R more generally). It can be defined by the local integrability of
|g|2/|f |2

(2.1.1)

for g OY ,

see [Na], [La]. By definition, the J (X) form a decreasing sequence of ideal sheaves of OY
indexed by R and satisfying
(2.1.2)

J (X) = OY

( 6 0),

J (( + 1)X) = f J (X) ( > 0).

Multiplier ideals can be defined also by using an embedded resolution of X (loc. cit.), and
it implies
(2.1.3)

J (X) = J (( + )X) (0 < 1).

This means that J (X) is right-continuous for . More precisely, for any R, the
argument using an embedded resolution shows


R | J (X) = J ( X) = [, ) or (, ) for some , Q.
We define the graded quotients G(X) by

G(X) := J (( )X)/J (X) (0 < 1),

where the range of may depend on (this is the same in (2.1.3)). We then have


JC(X) := R | G(X) 6= 0 Q.

The members of JC(X) are called the jumping coefficients of X. We will restrict to rational
numbers when we consider J (X), G(X).


L. MAXIM, M. SAITO, AND J. SCHURMANN

By (2.1.2) we get the isomorphisms

(2.1.4)
and
(2.1.5)

f : G(X) G(( + 1)X) ( > 0),

JC(X) = JC(X) (0, 1] + N.

Consider the filtration V on OY induced by the filtration V on Bf via the inclusion

OY = FdY Bf Bf .
By [BuSa, Theorem 0.1] we have
(2.1.6)

J (X) = V OY
G(X) =

if
/ JC(X),

GrV OY

= V OY /J (X) if JC(X).

This is related to the assertion that J (X) is right-continuous for as is explained above,
although V OY is left-continuous for .
We now consider the microlocal V -filtration on OY which is denoted by Ve , and is induced
by the filtration V on Bef via the isomorphism
Set

We have by (1.1.4)
(2.1.7)

OY = GrFdY Bef .



f
JC(X)
:= Q | GrVe OY 6= 0 .

f
JC(X)
(0, +),

f
JC(X)
(0, 1) = JC(X) (0, 1).

f
However, the last equality does not necessarily hold if (0, 1) is replaced by (0, 1] (since JC(X)
f ) does not necessarily
does not necessarily contain 1), and (2.1.5) with JC(f ) replaced by JC(f
holds, see Example (2.6)(ii) below.
e
We have the microlocal multiplier ideals Je(X), and their graded quotients G(X)
such
e
that J (X) is right-continuous and
(2.1.8)

Je(X) = Ve OY

f
if
/ JC(X),

e
f
G(X)
= GrVe OY = Ve OY /Je(X) if JC(X).

As for the relation with the usual multiplier ideals, we have the following short exact sequence
in the notation of (1.1):
(2.1.9)

can

FdX Gr1V Bf FdX Gr1V Bef 0,

0
eX OX X

where X is assumed to be reduced, and

eX := () Xe X ,

:= HomOX (X , OX ),
X

e X a resolution of singularities (see [MaSaSc, 4.1.1]). We have

with : X
X = Y OY OX ,

since X is globally defined by f , see for instance [Sa4, Lemma 2.9]. The coherent sheaf
X /e
X may be called the irrationality of the singularities of X, see also [MaSaSc, 4.2.5].
By (1.1.4), (2.1.9) we then get
(2.1.10)
(2.1.11)

J (X) = Je(X),

e
G(X) = G(X)
( < 1),

OX
Je(X)/J (X) =
eX OX X

( = 1),

THOM-SEBASTIANI THEOREM

(2.1.12)

e
0
eX OX X
G(X) G(X)
0 ( = 1).

Here we assume X reduced in (2.1.1112). Note that we have by (2.1.2)

(2.1.13)

J (X) = OY (X) = IX

( = 1),

where the last term is the ideal sheaf of X.

We have the Thom-Sebastiani type theorem for microlocal multiplier ideals as follows.
Theorem 2.2. With the notation and assumption of Theorem (1.2), there are equalities for
any Q :
P
(2.2.1)
Je(X) =
Je(1 X1 ) Je(2 X2 ) in OY = OY OY .
1 +2 =

fa1 (0)

by replacing Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa =

in Ya (a = 1, 2) so that = 1 2
if necessary. Here we may assume 1 , 2 (0, ) by the first equality in (2.1.2) together with
(2.1.10).

Proof. In (2.2.1) we may replace 1 + 2 = by 1 + 2 > , and assume for 0 < 1/m
(2.2.2)

f a ) (a = 1, 2),
a JC(X

f a ) Z/m.
(since Je(X) is right-continuous), where m is a positive integer such that JC(X
We now show that (2.2.1) is equivalent to the following.
P
(2.2.3)
Ve OY = 1 +2 = Ve 1 OY1 Ve 2 OY2 in OY = OY1 OY2 .

We may replace 1 + 2 = by 1 + 2 > in (2.2.3), and assume

(2.2.4)

f a ) (a = 1, 2),
a JC(X

since Ve is left-continuous. However, we may also assume (2.2.2) with 0 < 1/m instead
of (2.2.4) by replacing with 2 if necessary. (Here may depend on .) The equivalence
between (2.2.1) and (2.2.3) then follows from (2.1.8).
We can show (2.2.3) by taking GrFdY of the isomorphism (1.2.7) and calculating GrF of
in (1.2.7), since GrFpa (Befa , V ) is essentially independent of pa by (1.1.5) (a = 1, 2). This
finishes the proof of Theorem (2.2).

Corollary 2.3. With the notation and assumption of Theorem (1.2), there are canonical
isomorphisms for any Q :
L
e
e 1 X1 ) G(
e 2 X2 ),
(2.3.1)
G(X)
= 1 +2 = G(
by replacing Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa = fa1 (0) in Ya (a = 1, 2) if necessary. Here
we may assume 1 , 2 (0, ) as in Theorem (2.2).
It is also possible to deduce this from Theorem (1.2). Combining Corollary (2.3) with
(2.1.10), (2.1.12), we get the following.

Corollary 2.4. With the notation and assumption of Theorem (1.2), assume further X
reduced. We have the short exact sequence for = 1 :
L

(2.4.1)
0
eX OX X
G(X) 1 +2 =1 G(1 X1 ) G(2 X2 ) 0.

by replacing Ya with an open neighborhood of Xa = fa1 (0) in Ya (a = 1, 2) if necessary. Here

we may assume 1 , 2 (0, 1) as in Theorem (2.2).
2.5. Proof of Theorem 1. The assertion follows from Theorem (2.2) and Corollary (2.3)
together with (2.1.10).


L. MAXIM, M. SAITO, AND J. SCHURMANN

10

Examples 2.6. (i) Let Y = C with coordinate z. Set f = z m for m > 2. Then


(2.6.1)
Ve i/m OY = OY z k if i = k + 1 + k/(m 1) .

Indeed, we have

V i/m OY = OY z i1

(2.6.2)

(i [1, m 1]),

where V is the usual V -filtration on OY , see (2.1). This is compatible with [Sa1], and can
be proved by using the multiplier ideals together with (2.1.6).
We then get the inclusion in (2.6.1) by using (2.6.2) together with the definition of the
action of z in (1.1.1) and (1.1.5), since GrF z preserves the filtration Ve and z f = mz m1 .
So it is enough to show
(
1 if i > 1, i/m
/ Z,
i/m
(2.6.3)
dim GrVe OY =
0 otherwise.
Here we have

(
m
e 0 (Ff,0 , C) = C if = 1 and 6= 1,
H
0 otherwise,

e the reduced cohomology. The assertion (2.6.3) then follows by using (1.1.5) and
with H
recalling the definition of the direct image of filtered D-modules by the inclusion {0} C,
see for instance [MaSaSc, Section 1.2], [Sa7, Section B.3].
P
m
(ii) Let Y = Cd with coordinates z1 , . . . , zd . Set f = dj=1 zj j for mj > 2 (j [1, d]).
Then Example (i) together with (2.2.3) implies
P
(2.6.4)
Ve OY = OY z ,

where the summation is taken over = (1 , . . . , d ) Nd satisfying

 j 

Pd
1
(2.6.5)
> .
j=1 mj j + 1 + mj 1
In particular, we have
(2.6.6)

Ve ef OY = OY 6= Ve >ef OY with
ef :=

Pd

1
j=1 mj ,

lct(f ) = min{1,
ef }.

By (2.6.45) we see that the microlocal V -filtration on OY,0 has nothing to do with the
filtration V on the microlocal Gauss-Manin system as in [Sa1]. Indeed, the latter coincides
with the usual Gauss-Manin system (since the Milnor fiber is contractible), and the filtration
V on it is induced by the usual V -filtration on Bf , see [Sa2, Proposition 3.4.8].
Remark 2.7. In the non-degenerate Newton boundary case, Theorem 1 and Corollary 1 are
already well-known to specialists. Indeed, the multiplier ideals for < 1 can be expressed
by using the Newton filtration, see [Ho, Corollary 13]. This is very similar to a description
of the V -filtration on OY /(f ) in [Sa1], [VaKh], where (f ) is the Jacobian ideal. It is
also possible to deduce the above assertion from these by using [BuSa, Theorem 0.1], [Sa2,
Proposition 3.4.8], see also [Sa5, Proposition 3.2]. Theorem 1 and Corollary 1 in the nondegenerate Newton boundary case then follows from [Mu, Theorem 0.3] which proves a
Thom-Sebastiani type theorem for a sum of ideals with disjoint variables.

THOM-SEBASTIANI THEOREM

11

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L. Maxim : Department of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 480 Lincoln
Drive, Madison WI 53706-1388 USA
E-mail address: maxim@math.wisc.edu
M. Saito: RIMS Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502 Japan
E-mail address: msaito@kurims.kyoto-u.ac.jp
rmann : Mathematische Institut, Universita
t Mu
nster, Einsteinstr. 62, 48149
J. Schu
nster, Germany
Mu
E-mail address: jschuerm@uni-muenster.de