Higher multiplier ideals

Abstract We associate a family of ideal sheaves to any ℚ-effective divisor on a complex manifold, called higher multiplier ideals, using the theory of mixed Hodge modules and 𝑉-filtrations. This family is indexed by two parameters, an integer indicating the Hodge level and a rational number, and these ideals admit a weight filtration. When the Hodge level is zero, they recover the usual multiplier ideals. We study the local and global properties of higher multiplier ideals systematically. In particular, we prove vanishing theorems and restriction theorems, provide criteria for the nontriviality, and introduce the center of minimal exponent (generalizing the notion of minimal log canonical center). The main idea is to exploit the global structure of the 𝑉-filtration along an effective divisor using the notion of twisted Hodge modules. As applications, we prove new cases of conjectures by Debarre, Casalaina–Martin, and Grushevsky on singularities of theta divisors on principally polarized abelian varieties.