Higher order polars of quasi-ordinary singularities

Abstract

A quasi-ordinary polynomial is a monic polynomial with coefficients in the power series ring such that its discriminant equals a monomial up to unit. In this paper we study higher derivatives of quasi-ordinary polynomials, also called higher order polars. We find factorizations of these polars. Our research in this paper goes in two directions. We generalize the results of Casas-Alvero and our previous results on higher order polars in the plane to irreducible quasi-ordinary polynomials. We also generalize the factorization of the first polar of a quasi-ordinary polynomial (not necessary irreducible) given by the first-named author and González-Pérez to higher order polars. This is a new result even in the plane case. Our results remain true when we replace quasi-ordinary polynomials by quasi-ordinary power series.