Note on bounds for multiplicities

Let S=K[x₁,…,x_n] be a polynomial ring and R=S/I be a graded K-algebra where I⊂S is a graded ideal. Herzog, Huneke and Srinivasan have conjectured that the multiplicity of R is bounded above by a function of the maximal shifts in the minimal graded free resolution of R over S. We prove the conjecture in the case that codim(R)=2 which generalizes results in (J. Pure Appl. Algebra 182 (2003) 201; Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 350 (1998) 2879). We also give a proof for the bound in the case in which I is componentwise linear. For example, stable and squarefree stable ideals belong to this class of ideals.     

Graded Betti numbers of Cohen-Macaulay modules and the multiplicity conjecture

We give conjectures on the possible graded Betti numbers ofCohen–Macaulay modules up to multiplication by positiverational numbers. The idea is that the Betti diagrams shouldbe non-negative linear combinations of pure diagrams. The conjecturesare verified in the cases where the structure of resolutionsis known, that is: for modules of codimension two, for Gorensteinalgebras of codimension three and for complete intersections.The motivation for proposing the conjectures comes from theMultiplicity conjecture of Herzog, Huneke and Srinivasan.     

Extensions of the Multiplicity conjecture

The Multiplicity conjecture of Herzog, Huneke, and Srinivasan states an upper bound for the multiplicity of any graded -algebra as well as a lower bound for Cohen-Macaulay algebras. In this note we extend this conjecture in several directions. We discuss when these bounds are sharp, find a sharp lower bound in the case of not necessarily arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay one-dimensional schemes of 3-space, and propose an upper bound for finitely generated graded torsion modules. We establish this bound for torsion modules whose codimension is at most two.

     

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.     

The multiplicity and the Cohen-Macaulayness of extended Rees algebras of equimultiple ideals

Let I be an equimultiple ideal of Noetherian local ring A. This paper gives some multiplicity formulas of the extended Rees algebras T=A[It,t^-1]. In the case A generalized Cohen-Macaulay, we determine when T is Cohen-Macaulay and as an immediate consequence we obtain e.g., some criteria for the Cohen-Macaulayness of Rees algebra R(I) over a Cohen-Macaulay ring in terms of reduction numbers and ideals.     

Stillman's question for exterior algebras and Herzog's conjecture on Betti numbers of syzygy modules

Let K be a field of characteristic 0 and consider exterior algebras of finite dimensional K-vector spaces. In this short paper we exhibit principal quadric ideals in a family whose Castelnuovo–Mumford regularity is unbounded. This negatively answers the analogue of Stillman's Question for exterior algebras posed by I. Peeva. We show that, via the Bernstein–Gel'fand–Gel'fand correspondence, these examples also yields counterexamples to a conjecture of J. Herzog on the Betti numbers in the linear strand of syzygy modules over polynomial rings.     

The Golod property for powers of ideals and Koszul ideals

Let S be a regular local ring or a polynomial ring over a field and I be an ideal of S. Motivated by a recent result of Herzog and Huneke, we study the natural question of whether $I^m$ is a Golod ideal for all $m\ge 2$. We observe that the Golod property of an ideal can be detected through the vanishing of certain maps induced in homology. This observation leads us to generalize some known results from the graded case to local rings and obtain new classes of Golod ideals.     

Generic tropical initial ideals of Cohen-Macaulay algebras

We study the generic tropical initial ideals of a positively graded Cohen-Macaulay algebra R over an algebraically closed field k. Building on work of Römer and Schmitz, we give a formula for each initial ideal, and we express the associated quasivaluations in terms of certain I-adic filtrations. As a corollary, we show that in the case that R is a domain, every initial ideal coming from the codimension 1 skeleton of the tropical variety is prime, so “generic presentations of Cohen-Macaulay domains are well-poised in codimension 1.”     

Cohen-Macaulayness of Special Fiber Rings

Abstract

Let (R, 𝔪) be a Noetherian local ring and let Ibe an R-ideal. Inspired by the work of Hübl and Huneke, we look for conditions that guarantee the Cohen-Macaulayness of the special fiber ring ? = ?/𝔪? of I, where ? denotes the Rees algebra of I. Our key idea is to require ‘good’ intersection properties as well as ‘few’ homogeneous generating relations in low degrees. In particular, if Iis a strongly Cohen-Macaulay R-ideal with G _?and the expected reduction number, we conclude that ? is always Cohen-Macaulay. We also obtain a characterization of the Cohen-Macaulayness of ?/K? for any 𝔪-primary ideal K. This result recovers a well-known criterion of Valabrega and Valla whenever K = I. Furthermore, we study the relationship between the Cohen-Macaulay property of the special fiber ring ? and the Cohen-Macaulay property of the Rees algebra ? and the associated graded ring 𝒢 of I. Finally, we focus on the integral closedness of 𝔪I. The latter question is motivated by the theory of evolutions.     

Characteristic-independence of Betti numbers of graph ideals

In this paper, we study the Betti numbers of Stanley-Reisner ideals generated in degree 2. We show that the first 6 Betti numbers do not depend on the characteristic of the ground field. We also show that, if the number of variables n is at most 10, all Betti numbers are independent of the ground field. For n=11, there exists precisely 4 examples in which the Betti numbers depend on the ground field. This is equivalent to the statement that the homology of flag complexes with at most 10 vertices is torsion free and that there exists precisely 4 non-isomorphic flag complexes with 11 vertices whose homology has torsion.In each of the 4 examples mentioned above the 8th Betti numbers depend on the ground field and so we conclude that the highest Betti number which is always independent of the ground field is either 6 or 7; if the former is true then we show that there must exist a graph with 12 vertices whose 7th Betti number depends on the ground field.     

The structure of the core of ideals

The core of an R-ideal I is the intersection of all reductions of I. This object was introduced by D. Rees and J. Sally and later studied by C. Huneke and I. Swanson, who showed in particular its connection to J. Lipman's notion of adjoint of an ideal. Being an a priori infinite intersection of ideals, the core is difficult to describe explicitly. We prove in a broad setting that: core(I) is a finite intersection of minimal reductions; core(I) is a finite intersection of general minimal reductions; core(I) is the contraction to R of a ‘universal’ ideal; core(I) behaves well under flat extensions. The proofs are based on general multiplicity estimates for certain modules. Received: 16 May 2000 / Revised version: 11 December 2000 / Published online: 17 August 2001     

A study of the lex plus powers conjecture

An {a₁,…,a_n}-lex plus powers ideal is a monomial ideal in I⊂k[x₁,…,x_n] which minimally contains the regular sequence x₁^a₁,…,x_n^a_n and such that whenever m∈R_t is a minimal generator of I and m′∈R_t is greater than m in lex order, then m′∈I. Conjectures of Eisenbud et al. and Charalambous and Evans predict that after restricting to ideals containing a regular sequence in degrees {a₁,…,a_n}, then {a₁,…,a_n}-lex plus powers ideals have extremal properties similar to those of the lex ideal. That is, it is proposed that a lex plus powers ideal should give maximum possible Hilbert function growth (Eisenbud et al.), and, after fixing a Hilbert function, that the Betti numbers of a lex plus powers ideal should be uniquely largest (Charalambous, Evans). The first of these assertions would extend Macaulay's theorem on Hilbert function growth, while the second improves the Bigatti, Hulett, Pardue theorem that lex ideals have largest graded Betti numbers. In this paper we explore these two conjectures. First we give several equivalent forms of each statement. For example, we demonstrate that the conjecture for Hilbert functions is equivalent to the statement that for a given Hilbert function, lex plus powers ideals have the most minimal generators in each degree. We use this result to prove that it is enough to show that lex plus powers ideals have the most minimal generators in the highest possible degree. A similar result holds for the stronger conjecture. In this paper we also prove that if the weaker conjecture holds, then lex plus powers ideals are guaranteed to have largest socles. This suffices to show that the two conjectures are equivalent in dimension ?3, which proves the monomial case of the conjecture for Betti numbers in those degrees. In dimension 2, we prove both conjectures outright.     

A SURJECTIVE HOMOMORPHISM OF LOCAL COHOMOLOGY MODULES

Let R be a local ring and M a finitely generated generalized Cohen-Macaulay R-module such that dim _R M = dim _R M/αM + height_Mα a for all ideals α of R. Suppose that H_I ^j(M) ≠ 0 for an ideal I of R and an integer j > height_M I. We show that there exists an ideal J ? such that a. height_M J = j;

b. the natural homomorphism H_I ^j(M) → H_I ^j(M) is an isomorphism, for all i > j; and,

c. the natural homomorphism H_I ^j(M) → H_I ^j(M) is surjective.

By using this theorem, we obtain some results about Betti numbers, coassociated primes, and support of local cohomology modules.     

Hilbert coefficients and Buchsbaumness of associated graded rings

Let A be a Noetherian local ring with the maximal ideal and I an -primary ideal. The purpose of this paper is to generalize Northcott's inequality on Hilbert coefficients of I given in Northcott (J. London Math. Soc. 35 (1960) 209), without assuming that A is a Cohen-Macaulay ring. We will investigate when our inequality turns into an equality. It is related to the Buchsbaumness of the associated graded ring of I.     

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).     

Generic initial ideals of Artinian ideals having Lefschetz properties or the strong Stanley property

For a standard Artinian k-algebra A=R/I, we give equivalent conditions for A to have the weak (or strong) Lefschetz property or the strong Stanley property in terms of the minimal system of generators of gin(I). Using the equivalent condition for the weak Lefschetz property, we show that some graded Betti numbers of gin(I) are determined just by the Hilbert function of I if A has the weak Lefschetz property. Furthermore, for the case that A is a standard Artinian k-algebra of codimension 3, we show that every graded Betti number of gin(I) is determined by the graded Betti numbers of I if A has the weak Lefschetz property. And if A has the strong Lefschetz (respectively Stanley) property, then we show that the minimal system of generators of gin(I) is determined by the graded Betti numbers (respectively by the Hilbert function) of I.     

The Multiplicity Conjecture for Barycentric Subdivisions

For a simplicial complex Δ we study the effect of barycentric subdivision on ring theoretic invariants of its Stanley–Reisner ring. In particular, for Stanley–Reisner rings of barycentric subdivisions we verify a conjecture by Huneke and Herzog and Srinivasan, that relates the multiplicity of a standard graded k-algebra to the product of the maximal and minimal shifts in its minimal free resolution up to the height. On the way to proving the conjecture, we develop new and list well-known results on behavior of dimension, Hilbert series, multiplicity, local cohomology, depth, and regularity when passing from the Stanley–Reisner ring of Δ to the one of its barycentric subdivision.     

Modules with pure resolutions

Let R a standard graded algebra over a field k. In this paper, we give a relation in terms of graded Betti numbers, called the Herzog–Kühl equations, for a pure R-module M to satisfy the condition dim(R)?depth(R) = dim(M)?depth(M). When R is Cohen–Macaulay, we prove an analogous result characterizing all graded Cohen–Macaulay R-modules of finite projective dimension. Finally, as an application, we show that the property of R being Cohen–Macaulay is characterized by the existence of pure Cohen–Macaulay R-modules corresponding to any degree sequence of length at most depth(R).     

On 0-dimensional schemes with all permissible conductor degrees

IfX is a set of distinct points in ℙ² with given graded Betti numbers, we produce a new set of pointsY with the same graded Betti numbers asX which admits all possible conductor degrees according to the graded Betti numbers. Moreover, for such schemes we can compute the conductor degree for each point. We conclude by generalizing the construction of these schemes, obtaining again the same results.     

A characterization of Cohen-Macaulay modules and local cohomology

Let R be a commutative Noetherian ring, and let N be a non-zero finitely generated locally quasi-unmixed R-module. In this paper, the main result asserts that N is Cohen-Macaulay if and only if, for any N-proper ideal I of R generated by height_N I elements, the set of asymptotic primes of I with respect to N is equal to the set of presistent primes of I with respect to N. In addition, some applications about local cohomology are included. Received: 3 July 2005