A_k singularities of wave fronts

In this paper, we discuss the recognition problem for A_k-type singularities on wave fronts. We give computable and simple criteria of these singularities, which will play a fundamental role in generalizing the authors' previous work "the geometry of fronts" for surfaces. The crucial point to prove our criteria for A_k-singularities is to introduce a suitable parametrization of the singularities called the "k-th KRSUY-coordinates". Using them, we can directly construct a versal unfolding for a given singularity. As an application, we prove that a given nondegenerate singular point p on a real (resp. complex) hypersurface (as a wave front) in R^{n+1} (resp. C^{n+1}) is differentiably (resp. holomorphically) right-left equivalent to the A_{k+1}-type singular point if and only if the linear projection of the singular set around p into a generic hyperplane R^n (resp. C^n) is right-left equivalent to the A_k-type singular point in R^n (resp. C^{n}). Moreover, we show that the restriction of a C-infinity-map f:R^n --> R^n to its Morin singular set gives a wave front consisting of only A_k-type singularities. Furthermore, we shall give a relationship between the normal curvature map and the zig-zag numbers (the Maslov indices) of wave fronts.

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