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Jack Jeffries

Publications and source records attributed to Jack Jeffries.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

The variety of nilpotent matrices is $F$-regular

We give an elementary proof that the coordinate ring of the variety of nilpotent matrices is $F$-regular; over an infinite field $K$, this ring also arises as the nullcone for the conjugation action of the general linear group $\textrm{GL}_n(K)$ on the polynomial ring $K[X]$, where $X$ is an $n\times n$ matrix of indeterminates. We prove that the divisor class group of the coordinate ring is the cyclic group $\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z}$. We then study the case of symmetric nilpotent matrices, where the picture is completely different: the coordinate ring is not normal for $n\geqslant 2$; for $K$ algebraically closed of characteristic other than two, we prove that the coordinate ring is an integral domain precisely when $n$ is odd.

math.AC↗
arXiv2026

Regularity is bounded on a quasi-excellent Noetherian scheme

A point of a scheme has an associated tangent cone, the spectrum of a standard graded algebra encoding the local singularity. Its homological complexity can be measured by its graded Betti table: a matrix that records a part of the structure of its graded, minimal free resolution over a polynomial ring. A natural question is whether the homological complexity of the tangent cones varies arbitrarily across a scheme. In this paper, we show that this is not the case for a quasi-excellent Noetherian scheme; over such schemes, only finitely many graded Betti tables can occur. More generally, we show that a coherent sheaf over a quasi-excellent Noetherian scheme admits finitely many graded Betti tables, and that the constancy loci for the graded Betti table are constructible. As an immediate consequence, regularity is bounded on a quasi-excellent Noetherian scheme.

math.AC↗
arXiv2025

The arithmetic rank of determinantal nullcones

We compute the arithmetic rank as well as the local/\'etale cohomological dimension of nullcone ideals arising from the classical actions of the symplectic group, the general linear group, and the orthogonal group. We use these calculations to establish striking vanishing results for local cohomology modules supported at these nullcone ideals; this is achieved via a careful analysis of the critical local cohomology modules. The vanishing theorems that we prove are sharp in various respects.

math.AC↗
arXiv2025

Differential and symbolic powers of ideals

We characterize symbolic powers of prime ideals in polynomial rings over any field in terms of $\mathbb{Z}$-linear differential operators, and of prime ideals in polynomial rings over complete discrete valuation rings with a $p$-derivation $\delta$ in terms of $\mathbb{Z}$-linear differential operators and of $\delta$. This extends previous work of the same authors, as it allows the removal of separability hypotheses that were otherwise necessary. The absence of separability and the fact that modules of $\mathbb{Z}$-linear differential operators are typically not finitely generated require the introduction of new techniques. As a byproduct, we extend a characterization of symbolic powers due to Cid-Ruiz which also holds in the nonsmooth case. Finally, we produce an example of an unramified discrete valuation ring that has no $p$-derivations.

math.AC↗
arXiv2024

Sandwich Bernstein-Sato Polynomials and Bernstein's Inequality

Bernstein's inequality is a central result in the theory of $D$-modules on smooth varieties. While Bernstein's inequality fails for rings of differential operators on general singularities, recent work of \`{A}lvarez Montaner, Hern\'andez, Jeffries, N\'u\~nez-Betancourt, Teixeira, and Witt establishes Bernstein's inequality for invariants of finite groups in characteristic zero and certain other mild singularities in positive characteristic. Motivated by extending this result to new classes of singular rings, we introduce a ``two-sided'' analogue of the Bernstein-Sato polynomial which we call the sandwich Bernstein-Sato polynomial. We apply this notion to give an effective criterion to verify Bernstein's inequality, and apply this to show that Bernstein's inequality holds for the coordinate ring of $\mathbb{P}^a \times \mathbb{P}^b$ via the Segre embedding. We also establish a number of examples and basic results on sandwich Bernstein-Sato polynomials.

math.AC↗
arXiv2023

Local cohomology of modular invariant rings

For $K$ a field, consider a finite subgroup $G$ of $\operatorname{GL}_n(K)$ with its natural action on the polynomial ring $R:=K[x_1,\dots,x_n]$. Let $\mathfrak{n}$ denote the homogeneous maximal ideal of the ring of invariants $R^G$. We study how the local cohomology module $H^n_{\mathfrak{n}}(R^G)$ compares with $H^n_{\mathfrak{n}}(R)^G$. Various results on the $a$-invariant and on the Hilbert series of $H^n_\mathfrak{n}(R^G)$ are obtained as a consequence.

math.AC↗
arXiv2022

When are the natural embeddings of classical invariant rings pure?

Consider a reductive linear algebraic group $G$ acting linearly on a polynomial ring $S$ over an infinite field; key examples are the general linear group, the symplectic group, the orthogonal group, and the special linear group, with the classical representations as in Weyl's book: for the general linear group, consider a direct sum of copies of the standard representation and copies of the dual; in the other cases take copies of the standard representation. The invariant rings in the respective cases are determinantal rings, rings defined by Pfaffians of alternating matrices, symmetric determinantal rings, and the Pl\"ucker coordinate rings of Grassmannians; these are the classical invariant rings of the title, with $S^G\subseteq S$ being the natural embedding. Over a field of characteristic zero, a reductive group is linearly reductive, and it follows that the invariant ring $S^G$ is a pure subring of $S$, equivalently, $S^G$ is a direct summand of $S$ as an $S^G$-module. Over fields of positive characteristic, reductive groups are typically no longer linearly reductive. We determine, in the positive characteristic case, precisely when the inclusion $S^G\subseteq S$ is pure. It turns out that if $S^G\subseteq S$ is pure, then either the invariant ring $S^G$ is regular, or the group $G$ is linearly reductive.

math.AC↗
arXiv2022

Resolutions of differential operators of low order for an isolated hypersurface singularity

In this paper we develop a new approach for studying differential operators of an isolated singularity graded hypersurface ring $R$ defining a surface in affine three-space over a field of characteristic zero. With this method, we construct an explicit minimal generating set for the modules of differential operators of order two and three, as well as their minimal free resolutions; this expands results of Bernstein, Gel'fand, and Gel'fand and of Vigu\'e. Our construction relies, in part, on a description of these modules that we derive in the singularity category of $R$. Namely, we build explicit matrix factorizations starting from that of the residue field.

math.AC↗
arXiv2022

Nash blowups of toric varieties in prime characteristic

We initiate the study of the resolution of singularities properties of Nash blowups over fields of prime characteristic. We prove that the iteration of normalized Nash blowups desingularizes normal toric surfaces. We also introduce a prime characteristic version of the logarithmic Jacobian ideal of a toric variety and prove that its blowup coincides with the Nash blowup of the variety. As a consequence, the Nash blowup of a, not necessarily normal, toric variety of arbitrary dimension in prime characteristic can be described combinatorially.

math.AG↗
arXiv2022

Lower bounds on Hilbert--Kunz multiplicities and maximal F-signatures

Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity and F-signature are numerical invariants of commutative rings in positive characteristic that measure severity of singularities: for a regular ring both invariants are equal to one and the converse holds under mild assumptions. A natural question is for what singular rings these invariants are closest to one. For Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity this question was first considered by the last two authors and attracted significant attention. In this paper, we study this question, i.e., an upper bound, for F-signature and revisit lower bounds on Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity.

math.AC↗
arXiv2021

Bernstein-Sato theory for singular rings in positive characteristic

The Bernstein-Sato polynomial is an important invariant of an element or an ideal in a polynomial ring or power series ring of characteristic zero, with interesting connections to various algebraic and topological aspects of the singularities of the vanishing locus. Work of Musta\c{t}\u{a}, later extended by Bitoun and the third author, provides an analogous Bernstein-Sato theory for regular rings of positive characteristic. In this paper, we extend this theory to singular ambient rings in positive characteristic. We establish finiteness and rationality results for Bernstein-Sato roots for large classes of singular rings, and relate these roots to other classes of numerical invariants defined via the Frobenius map. We also obtain a number of new results and simplified arguments in the regular case.

math.AC↗
arXiv2021

A Jacobian criterion for nonsingularity in mixed characteristic

We give a version of the usual Jacobian characterization of the defining ideal of the singular locus in the equal characteristic case: the new theorem is valid for essentially affine algebras over a complete local algebra over a mixed characteristic discrete valuation ring. The result makes use of the minors of a matrix that includes a row coming from the values of a $p$-derivation. To study the analogue of modules of differentials associated with the mixed Jacobian matrices that arise in our context, we introduce and investigate the notion of a perivation, which may be thought of, roughly, as a linearization of the notion of $p$-derivation. We also develop a mixed characteristic analogue of the positive characteristic $\Gamma$-construction, and apply this to give additional nonsingularity criteria.

math.AC↗
arXiv2021

Bernstein-Sato functional equations, $V$-filtrations, and multiplier ideals of direct summands

This paper investigates the existence and properties of a Bernstein-Sato functional equation in nonregular settings. In particular, we construct $D$-modules in which such formal equations can be studied. The existence of the Bernstein-Sato polynomial for a direct summand of a polynomial over a field is proved in this context. It is observed that this polynomial can have zero as a root, or even positive roots. Moreover, a theory of $V$-filtrations is introduced for nonregular rings, and the existence of these objects is established for what we call differentially extensible summands. This family of rings includes toric, determinantal, and other invariant rings. This new theory is applied to the study of multiplier ideals and Hodge ideals of singular varieties. Finally, we extend known relations among the objects of interest in the smooth case to the setting of singular direct summands of polynomial rings.

math.AG↗
arXiv2021

Bernstein's inequality and holonomicity for certain singular rings

In this manuscript we prove the Bernstein inequality and develop the theory of holonomic D-modules for rings of invariants of finite groups in characteristic zero, and for strongly F-regular finitely generated graded algebras with FFRT in prime characteristic. In each of these cases, the ring itself, its localizations, and its local cohomology modules are holonomic. We also show that holonomic D-modules, in this context, have finite length. We obtain these results using a more general version of Bernstein filtrations.

math.AC↗