On the computation of the jdeg of blowup algebras

For a graded algebra , its is a global degree that can be used to study issues of complexity of the normalization . Here some techniques grounded on Rees algebra theory are used to estimate . A closely related notion, of divisorial generation, is introduced to count numbers of generators of .     

An algorithm for computing the number of intermediary rings in normal pairs

The main purpose of this paper is to establish a result giving the number of intermediary rings between R and S when (R,S) is a normal pair of rings and to provide an algorithm to compute this number.     

Improving the bounds of the multiplicity conjecture: The codimension 3 level case

The Multiplicity Conjecture (MC) of Huneke and Srinivasan provides upper and lower bounds for the multiplicity of a Cohen-Macaulay algebra A in terms of the shifts appearing in the modules of the minimal free resolution (MFR) of A. All the examples studied so far have lead to conjecture (see [J. Herzog, X. Zheng, Notes on the multiplicity conjecture. Collect. Math. 57 (2006) 211-226] and [J. Migliore, U. Nagel, T. Römer, Extensions of the multiplicity conjecture, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. (preprint: math.AC/0505229) (in press)]) that, moreover, the bounds of the MC are sharp if and only if A has a pure MFR. Therefore, it seems a reasonable-and useful-idea to seek better, if possibly ad hoc, bounds for particular classes of Cohen-Macaulay algebras.In this work we will only consider the codimension 3 case. In the first part we will stick to the bounds of the MC, and show that they hold for those algebras whose h-vector is that of a compressed algebra.In the second part, we will (mainly) focus on the level case: we will construct new conjectural upper and lower bounds for the multiplicity of a codimension 3 level algebra A, which can be expressed exclusively in terms of the h-vector of A, and which are better than (or equal to) those provided by the MC. Also, our bounds can be sharp even when the MFR of A is not pure.Even though proving our bounds still appears too difficult a task in general, we are already able to show them for some interesting classes of codimension 3 level algebras A: namely, when A is compressed, or when its h-vector h(A) ends with (…,3,2). Also, we will prove our lower bound when h(A) begins with (1,3,h₂,…), where h₂≤4, and our upper bound when h(A) ends with (…,h_c−1,h_c), where h_c−1≤h_c+1.     

On the divisorial spectrum of a Noetherian domain

For a Noetherian domain, the sets of divisorial primes, t-primes, and associated primes of principal ideals coincide. We study the divisorial primes of a Noetherian domain as a partially ordered set. In particular, we show that it is possible to have arbitrarily long chains and any finite amount of noncatenarity.     

On the multiplicity and the Cohen-Macaulayness of fiber cones of graded algebras

Let A be a Noetherian local ring with the maximal ideal m and an m-primary ideal J. Let S=?_n≥0S_n be a finitely generated standard graded algebra over A. Set S⁺=?_n>0S_n. Denote by F_J(S)=?_n≥0→(S_n/JS_n) the fiber cone of S with respect to J. The paper characterizes the multiplicity and the Cohen-Macaulayness of F_J(S) in terms of minimal reductions of S⁺.     

On the rigidity of the cotangent complex at the prime 2

In [D. Quillen, On the (co)homology of commutative rings, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 17 (1970) 65-87; L. Avramov, Locally complete intersection homomorphisms and a conjecture of Quillen on the vanishing of cotangent homology, Annals of Math. 2 (150) (1999) 455-487] a conjecture was posed to the effect that if R→A is a homomorphism of Noetherian commutative rings then the flat dimension, as defined in the derived category of A-modules, of the associated cotangent complex L_A/R satisfies: . The aim of this paper is to initiate an approach for solving this conjecture when R has characteristic 2 using simplicial algebra techniques. To that end, we obtain two results. First, we prove that the conjecture can be reframed in terms of certain nilpotence properties for the divided square γ₂ and the André operation ? as it acts on Tor_R(A,?), ? any residue field of A. Second, we prove the conjecture is valid in two cases: when and when R is a Cohen-Macaulay ring.     

An avoidance principle with an application to the asymptotic behaviour of graded local cohomology

We present an avoidance principle for certain graded rings. As an application we fill a gap in the proof of a result of Brodmann, Rohrer and Sazeedeh about the antipolynomiality of the Hilbert–Samuel multiplicity of the graded components of the local cohomology modules of a finitely generated module over a Noetherian homogeneous ring with two-dimensional local base ring.     

On the diameter and girth of a zero-divisor graph

For a commutative ring R with zero-divisors Z(R), the zero-divisor graph of R is Γ(R)=Z(R)−{0}, with distinct vertices x and y adjacent if and only if xy=0. In this paper, we characterize when either or . We then use these results to investigate the diameter and girth for the zero-divisor graphs of polynomial rings, power series rings, and idealizations.     

New developments in the theory of Gröbner bases and applications to formal verification

We present foundational work on standard bases over rings and on Boolean Gröbner bases in the framework of Boolean functions. The research was motivated by our collaboration with electrical engineers and computer scientists on problems arising from formal verification of digital circuits. In fact, algebraic modelling of formal verification problems is developed on the word-level as well as on the bit-level. The word-level model leads to Gröbner basis in the polynomial ring over Z/2ⁿ while the bit-level model leads to Boolean Gröbner bases. In addition to the theoretical foundations of both approaches, the algorithms have been implemented. Using these implementations we show that special data structures and the exploitation of symmetries make Gröbner bases competitive to state-of-the-art tools from formal verification but having the advantage of being systematic and more flexible.     

Intermediary rings in normal pairs

We establish in this paper a result that gives the number of intermediary rings between R and S where (R,S) is a normal pair of rings. This result answers in particular a question which was left open in [A. Jaballah, Finiteness of the set of intermediary rings in a normal pair, Saintama Math. J. 17 (1999) 59-61]. Further applications are also given.     

On universally catenarian pairs

If 1≤n<∞ and R⊆S are integral domains, then (R,S) is called an n-catenarian pair if for each intermediate ring T (that is each ring T such that R⊆T⊆S) the polynomial ring in n indeterminates, T[n] is catenarian. This implies that (R,S) is m-catenarian for all m<n. The main purpose of this paper is to prove that 1-catenarian and universally catenarian pairs are equivalent in several cases. An example of a 1-catenarian pair which is not 2-catenarian is given.     

Vector fields and a family of linear type modules related to free divisors

This paper has three main goals. We start describing a method for computing the polynomial vector fields tangent to a given algebraic variety; this is of interest, for instance, in view of (effective) foliation theory. We then pass to furnishing a family of modules of linear type (that is, the Rees algebra equals the symmetric algebra), formed with vector fields related to suitable pairs of algebraic varieties, one of them being a free divisor in the sense of K. Saito. Finally, we derive freeness criteria for modules retaining a certain tangency feature, so that, in particular, well-known criteria for free divisors are recovered.     

On the integral closure of ideals

Among the several types of closures of an idealI that have been defined and studied in the past decades, the integral closureĪ has a central place being one of the earliest and most relevant. Despite this role, it is often a difficult challenge to describe it concretely once the generators ofI are known. Our aim in this note is to show that in a broad class of ideals their radicals play a fundamental role in testing for integral closedness, and in caseI ≠Ī, ✓I is still helpful in finding some fresh new elements inĪ/I. Among the classes of ideals under consideration are: complete intersection ideals of codimension two, generic complete intersection ideals, and generically Gorenstein ideals. Part of the results contained in this paper were obtained while the first author was visiting Rutgers University and was partially supported by CNR grant 203.01.63, Italy. The second and third authors were partially supported by the NSF. This article was processed by the author using the LAT_EX style filecljour1 from Springer-Verlag     

A note on some chain conditions

We answer a question raised by Othman Echi: Is an E ₁ (resp., a C ₁) ring an E (resp., a C) ring? We construct a C ₁ (thus E ₁) ring which is not an E ₂ (thus not a C ₂) ring. Received: 11 June 2007     

On the kernels of some higher derivations in polynomial rings

Let A=R[x₁,…,x_n] be the polynomial ring in n variables over an integral domain R with unit, let D be a rational higher R-derivation on A and let be the extension of D to the quotient field of A. We prove that, if the transcendental degree of the kernel of D over R is not less than n−1, then the quotient field of the kernel of D equals the kernel of . Moreover, when n=2, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for an R-subalgebra of A to be expressed as the kernel of a rational higher R-derivation on A.     

Power series extensions of half-factorial domains

An integral domain is said to be a half-factorial domain (HFD) if every non-zero element a that is not a unit may be factored into a finite product of irreducible elements, while any other such factorization of a has the same number of irreducible factors. While it is known that a power series extension of a factorial domain need not be factorial, the corresponding question for HFD has been open. In this paper we show that the answer is also negative. In the process we answer in the negative, for HFD, an open question of Samuel for factorial domains by showing that for certain quadratic domains R, and independent variables, Y and T, R[[Y]][[T]] is not HFD even when R[[Y]] is HFD. The proof hinges on Samuel’s theorem to the effect that a power series, in finitely many variables, over a regular factorial domain is factorial.     

Poincaré series of modules over compressed Gorenstein local rings

Given two positive integers e and s we consider Gorenstein Artinian local rings R   whose maximal ideal m$\mathfrak{m}$ satisfies m^s≠0=m^s+1${\mathfrak{m}}^s\ne 0={\mathfrak{m}}^{s+1}$ and _rankR/m(m/m²)=e${\mathrm{rank}}_{R/\mathfrak{m}}(\mathfrak{m}/{\mathfrak{m}}^2)=e$. We say that R is a compressed Gorenstein local ring   when it has maximal length among such rings. It is known that generic Gorenstein Artinian algebras are compressed. If s≠3$s\ne 3$, we prove that the Poincaré series of all finitely generated modules over a compressed Gorenstein local ring are rational, sharing a common denominator. A formula for the denominator is given. When s is even this formula depends only on the integers e and s  . Note that for s=3$s=3$ examples of compressed Gorenstein local rings with transcendental Poincaré series exist, due to Bøgvad.     

Homology of artinian and Matlis reflexive modules, I

Let R be a commutative local noetherian ring, and let L and L^′ be R-modules. We investigate the properties of the functors and . For instance, we show the following:

(a)

if L and L^′ are artinian, then is artinian, and is noetherian over the completion ;

(b)

if L is artinian and L^′ is Matlis reflexive, then , , and are Matlis reflexive.

Also, we study the vanishing behavior of these functors, and we include computations demonstrating the sharpness of our results.     

The Hilbert functions which force the Weak Lefschetz Property

The purpose of this note is to characterize the finite Hilbert functions which force all of their artinian algebras to enjoy the Weak Lefschetz Property (WLP). Curiously, they turn out to be exactly those (characterized by Wiebe in [A. Wiebe, The Lefschetz property for componentwise linear ideals and Gotzmann ideals, Comm. Algebra 32 (12) (2004) 4601-4611]) whose Gotzmann ideals have the WLP.This implies that, if a Gotzmann ideal has the WLP, then all algebras with the same Hilbert function (and hence lower Betti numbers) have the WLP as well. However, we will answer in the negative, even in the case of level algebras, the most natural question that one might ask after reading the previous sentence: If A is an artinian algebra enjoying the WLP, do all artinian algebras with the same Hilbert function as A and Betti numbers lower than those of A have the WLP as well?Also, as a consequence of our result, we have another (simpler) proof of the fact that all codimension 2 algebras enjoy the WLP (this fact was first proven in [T. Harima, J. Migliore, U. Nagel, J. Watanabe, The weak and strong Lefschetz properties for Artinian K-algebras, J. Algebra 262 (2003) 99-126], where it was shown that even the Strong Lefschetz Property holds).