Classical Zariski pairs

Abstract

We enumerate and classify up to equisingular deformation all irreducible plane sextics constituting the so called classical Zariski pairs. In most cases we obtain two deformation families, called abundant and non-abundant. Four sets of singularities are realized by abundant sextics only, and one exceptional set of singularities is realized by three families, one abundant and two complex conjugate non-abundant. This exceptional set of singularities has submaximal total Milnor number 18. © 2012 World Scientific Publishing Company.