In this paper we generalize the definitions of singularities of pairs and multiplier ideal sheaves to pairs on arbitrary normal varieties, without any assumption on the variety being Q-Gorenstein or the pair being log Q-Gorenstein. The main features of the theory extend to this setting in a natural way.

48 pages. v4: Appendix is new, plus several minor changes made throughout the paper following the referee's suggestions. Final version, to appear in Duke Math JWe introduce a notion of volume of a normal isolated singularity that generalizes Wahl's characteristic number of surface singularities to arbitrary dimensions. We prove a basic monotonicity property of this volume under finite morphisms. We draw several consequences regarding the existence of non-invertible finite endomorphisms fixing an isolated singularity. Using a cone construction, we deduce that the anticanonical divisor of any smooth projective variety carrying a non-invertible polarized endomorphism is pseudoeffective. Our techniques build on Shokurov's b-divisors. We define the notion of nef Weil b-divisors, and of nef envelopes of b-divisors. We relate the latter to the pull-back of Weil divisors introduced by de Fernex and Hacon. Using the subadditivity theorem for multiplier ideals with respect to pairs recently obtained by Takagi, we carry over to the isolated singularity case the intersection theory of nef Weil b-divisors formerly developed by Boucksom, Favre, and Jonsson in the smooth case

Abstract. We generalize to all normal complex algebraic varieties the valuative characterization of multiplier ideals due to Boucksom-Favre-Jonsson in the smooth case. To that end, we extend the log discrepancy function to the space of all real valuations, and prove that it satisfies an adequate properness property, building upon previous work by Jonsson-Mustaţȃ. We next give an alternative definition of the concept of numerically Cartier divisors previously introduced by the first three authors, and prove that numerically Q-Cartier divisors coincide with Q-Cartier divisors for rational singularities. These ideas naturally lead to the notion of numerically Q-Gorenstein varieties, for which our valuative characterization of multiplier ideals takes a particularly simple form.

Abstract. Shokurov conjectured that the set of all log canonical thresholds on varieties of bounded dimension satisfies the ascending chain condition. In this paper we prove that the conjecture holds for log canonical thresholds on smooth varieties and, more generally, on locally complete intersection varieties and on varieties with quotient singularities.

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