arXiv subjects

Melvin Hochster

Publications and source records attributed to Melvin Hochster.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Generic Local Duality and Purity Exponents

We prove a form of generic local duality that generalizes a result of Karen E. Smith. Specifically, let $R$ be a Noetherian ring, let $P$ be a prime ideal of $R$ of height $h$, let $A:=R/P$, and $W$ be a subset of $R$ that maps onto $A\setminus \{0\}$. Suppose that $R_P$ is Cohen-Macaulay, and that $ω$ is a finitely generated $R$-module such that $ω_P$ is a canonical module for $R_P$. Let $E:=H^h_P(ω)$. We show that for every finitely generated $R$-module $M$ there exists $g \in W$ such that for all $j\geq 0$, $H_P^j(M)_g \cong \mathrm{Hom}_R(\mathrm{Ext}_R^{h-j}(M,\, ω),\, E)_g$, and that, moreover, every $H_P^j(M)_g$ has an ascending filtration by a countable sequence of finitely generated submodules such that the factors are finitely generated free $A_g$-modules. In fact, this sequence may be taken to be $\{\mathrm{Ann}_{H_P^j(M)_g}P^n\}_n$. We use this result to study the purity exponent for a nonzerodivisor $c$ in a reduced excellent Noetherian ring $R$ of prime characteristic $p$, which is the least $e \in \mathbb{N}$ such that the map $R \to R^{1/p^e}$ with $1 \mapsto c^{1/p^e}$ is pure. In particular, in the case where $R$ is a homomorphic image of an excellent Cohen-Macaulay ring and is S$_2$, we establish an upper semicontinuity result for the function $\mathfrak{e}_c:\mathrm{Spec}(R) \to \mathbb{N}$, where $\mathfrak{e}_c(P)$ is the purity exponent for the image of $c$ in $R_P$. This result enables us to prove that excellent strongly F-regular rings are very strongly F-regular (also called F-pure regular). Another consequence is that the F-pure locus is open in an S$_2$ ring that is a homomorphic image of an excellent Cohen-Macxaulay ring.

math.AC↗

arXiv2024

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 $Γ$-construction, and apply this to give additional nonsingularity criteria.

math.AC↗

arXiv2023

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 Plücker 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↗

arXiv2020

Strength conditions, small subalgebras, and Stillman bounds in degree $\leq 4$

In [2], the authors prove Stillman's conjecture in all characteristics and all degrees by showing that, independent of the algebraically closed field $K$ or the number of variables, $n$ forms of degree at most $d$ in a polynomial ring $R$ over $K$ are contained in a polynomial subalgebra of $R$ generated by a regular sequence consisting of at most ${}^η\!B(n,d)$ forms of degree at most $d$: we refer to these informally as "small" subalgebras. Moreover, these forms can be chosen so that the ideal generated by any subset defines a ring satisfying the Serre condition R$_η$. A critical element in the proof is to show that there are functions ${}^η\!A(n,d)$ with the following property: in a graded $n$-dimensional $K$-vector subspace $V$ of $R$ spanned by forms of degree at most $d$, if no nonzero form in $V$ is in an ideal generated by ${}^η\!A(n,d)$ forms of strictly lower degree (we call this a {\it strength} condition), then any homogeneous basis for $V$ is an R$_η$ sequence. The methods of \cite{AH2} are not constructive. In this paper, we use related but different ideas that emphasize the notion of a {\it key function} to obtain the functions ${}^η\!A(n,d)$ in degrees 2, 3, and 4 (in degree 4 we must restrict to characteristic not 2, 3). We give bounds in closed form for the key functions and the ${}^η\!A$ functions, and explicit recursions that determine the functions ${}^η\!B$ from the ${}^η\!A$ functions. In degree 2, we obtain an explicit value for ${}^η\!B(n,2)$ that gives the best known bound in Stillman's conjecture for quadrics when there is no restriction on $n$. In particular, for an ideal $I$ generated by $n$ quadrics, the projective dimension $R/I$ is at most $2^{n+1}(n - 2) + 4$.

math.AC↗

arXiv2020

Faithfulness of Top Local Cohomology Modules in Domains

We study the conditions under which the highest nonvanishing local cohomology module of a domain $R$ with support in an ideal $I$ is faithful over $R$, i.e., which guarantee that $H^c_I(R)$ is faithful, where $c$ is the cohomological dimension of $I$. In particular, we prove that this is true for the case of positive prime characteristic when $c$ is the number of generators of $I$.

math.AC↗

arXiv2020

Extensions of primes, flatness, and intersection flatness

We study when $R \to S$ has the property that prime ideals of $R$ extend to prime ideals or the unit ideal of $S$, and the situation where this property continues to hold after adjoining the same indeterminates to both rings. We prove that if $R$ is reduced, every maximal ideal of $R$ contains only finitely many minimal primes of $R$, and prime ideals of $R[X_1,\dots,X_n]$ extend to prime ideals of $S[X_1,\dots,X_n]$ for all $n$, then $S$ is flat over $R$. We give a counterexample to flatness over a reduced quasilocal ring $R$ with infinitely many minimal primes by constructing a non-flat $R$-module $M$ such that $M = PM$ for every minimal prime $P$ of $R$. We study the notion of intersection flatness and use it to prove that in certain graded cases it suffices to examine just one closed fiber to prove the stable prime extension property.

math.AC↗

arXiv2020

Universal Lex Ideal Approximations of Extended Hilbert Functions and Hamilton Numbers

Let $R^h$ denote the polynomial ring in variables $x_1,\,\ldots,\, x_h$ over a specified field $K$. We consider all of these rings simultaneously, and in each use lexicographic (lex) monomial order with $x_1 > \cdots > x_h$. Given a fixed homogeneous ideal $I$ in $R^h$, for each $d$ there is unique lex ideal generated in degree at most $d$ whose Hilbert function agrees with the Hilbert function of $I$ up to degree $d$. When we consider $IR^N$ for $N \geq h$, the set $\mathfrak{B}_d(I,N)$ of minimal generators for this lex ideal in degree at most $d$ may change, but $\mathfrak{B}_d(I,N)$ is constant for all $N \gg 0$. We let $\mathfrak{B}_d(I)$ denote the set of generators one obtains for all $N \gg 0$, and we let $b_d = b_d(I)$ be its cardinality. The sequences $b_1, \, \ldots, \, b_d, \, \ldots$ obtained in this way may grow very fast. Remarkably, even when $I = (x_1^2, x_2^2)$, one obtains a very interesting sequence, 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 924, 409620,$\,\ldots$. This sequence is the same as $H_{d-1} + 1$ for $d \geq 2$, where $H_d$ is the $d\,$th Hamilton number. The Hamilton numbers were studied by Hamilton and by Hammond and Sylvester because of their occurrence in a counting problem connected with the use of Tschirnhaus transformations in manipulating polynomial equations.

math.AC↗

arXiv2019

Small Subalgebras of Polynomial Rings and Stillman's Conjecture

We show that in a polynomial ring $R$ in $N$ variables over an algebraically closed field $K$ of arbitrary characteristic, any $K$-subalgebra of $R$ generated over $K$ by at most $n$ forms of degree at most $d$ is contained in a $K$-subalgebra of $R$ generated by $B \leq {}^η\mathcal{B}(n,d)$ forms $G_1,..., G_B$ of degree $\leq d$, where ${}^η\mathcal{B}(n,d)$ does not depend on $N$ or $K$, such that these forms are a regular sequence and such that for any ideal $J$ generated by forms that are in the $K$-span of $G_1, ..., G_B$, the ring $R/J$ satisfies the Serre condition $R_η$. These results imply a conjecture of M. Stillman asserting that the projective dimension of an $n$-generator ideal $I$ of $R$ whose generators are forms of degree $\leq d$ is bounded independent of $N$. We also show that there is a primary decomposition of $I$ such that all numerical invariants of the decomposition (e.g., the number of primary components and the degrees and numbers of generators of all of the prime and primary ideals occurring) are bounded independent of $N$.

math.AC↗

arXiv2018

The Eisenbud-Green-Harris Conjecture for Defect Two Quadratic Ideals

The Eisenbud-Green-Harris (EGH) conjecture states that a homogeneous ideal in a polynomial ring $K[x_1,\,\ldots,\,x_n]$ over a field $K$ that contains a regular sequence $f_1,\,\ldots,\, f_n$ with degrees $a_i$, $i=1,\,\ldots,\,n$ has the same Hilbert function as a lex-plus-powers ideal containing the powers $x_i^{a_i}$, $i=1,\,\ldots,\,n$. In this paper, we discuss a case of the EGH conjecture for homogeneous ideals generated by $n+2$ quadrics containing a regular sequence $f_1,\, \ldots, \, f_n$ and give a complete proof for EGH when $n=5$ and $a_1=\cdots=a_5=2$.

math.AC↗

arXiv2015

Continuous closure, axes closure, and natural closure

Let $R$ be a reduced affine $\mathbb C$-algebra, with corresponding affine algebraic set $X$. Let $\mathcal C(X)$ be the ring of continuous (Euclidean topology) $\mathbb C$-valued functions on $X$. Brenner defined the \emph{continuous closure} $I^{\rm cont}$ of an ideal $I$ as $I\mathcal C(X) \cap R$. He also introduced an algebraic notion of \emph{axes closure} $I^{\rm ax}$ that always contains $I^{\rm cont}$, and asked whether they coincide. We extend the notion of axes closure to general Noetherian rings, defining $f \in I^{\rm ax}$ if its image is in $IS$ for every homomorphism $R \to S$, where $S$ is a one-dimensional complete seminormal local ring. We also introduce the \emph{natural closure} $I^\natural$ of $I$. One of many characterizations is $I^\natural = I + \{f \in R: \exists n >0 \text{ with } f^n \in I^{n+1}\}$. We show that $I^\natural \subseteq I^{\rm ax}$, and that when continuous closure is defined, $I^\natural \subseteq I^{\rm cont }\subseteq I^{\rm ax}$. Under mild hypotheses on the ring, we show that $I^\natural= I^{\rm ax}$ when $I$ is primary to a maximal ideal, and that if $I$ has no embedded primes, then $I = I^\natural$ if and only if $I = I^{\rm ax}$, so that $I^{\rm cont}$ agrees as well. We deduce that in the polynomial ring $\mathbb C[x_1, \ldots, x_n]$, if $f = 0$ at all points where all of the ${\partial f \over \partial x_i}$ are 0, then $f \in ( {\partial f \over \partial x_1}, \, \ldots, \, {\partial f \over \partial x_n})R$. We characterize $I^{\rm cont}$ for monomial ideals in polynomial rings over $\mathbb C$, but we show that the inequalities $I^\natural \subset I^{\rm cont}$ and $I^{\rm cont} \subset I^{\rm ax}$ can be strict for monomial ideals even in dimension 3. Thus, $I^{\rm cont}$ and $I^{\rm ax}$ need not agree, although we prove they are equal in $\mathbb C[x_1, x_2]$.

math.AC↗

arXiv2011

Ideals Generated by Quadratic Polynomials

Let $R$ be a polynomial ring in $N$ variables over an arbitrary field $K$ and let $I$ be an ideal of $R$ generated by $n$ polynomials of degree at most 2. We show that there is a bound on the projective dimension of $R/I$ that depends only on $n$, and not on $N$. The proof depends on showing that if $K$ is infinite and $n$ is a positive integer, there exists a positive integer C(n), independent of $N$, such that any $n$ forms of degree at most 2 in $R$ are contained in a subring of $R$ generated over $K$ by at most $t \leq C(n)$ forms $G_1, \,..., \, G_t$ of degree 1 or 2 such that $G_1, \,..., \, G_t$ is a regular sequence in $R$. C(n) is asymptotic to $2n^{2n}$.

math.AC↗

arXiv2011

Homological invariants of modules over contracting endomorphisms

It is proved that when R is a local ring of positive characteristic, $ϕ$ is its Frobenius endomorphism, and some non-zero finite R-module has finite flat dimension or finite injective dimension for the R-module structure induced through $ϕ$, then R is regular. This broad generalization of Kunz's characterization of regularity in positive characteristic is deduced from a theorem concerning a local ring R with residue field of k of arbitrary characteristic: If $ϕ$ is a contracting endomorphism of R, then the Betti numbers and the Bass numbers over $ϕ$ of any non-zero finitely generated R-module grow at the same rate, on an exponential scale, as the Betti numbers of k over R.

math.AC↗

arXiv2008

The Frobenius Structure of Local Cohomology

Given a local ring of positive prime characteristic there is a natural Frobenius action on its local cohomology modules with support at its maximal ideal. In this paper we study the local rings for which the local cohomology modules have only finitely many submodules invariant under the Frobenius action. In particular we prove that F-pure Gorenstein local rings as well as the face ring of a finite simplicial complex localized or completed at its homogeneous maximal ideal have this property. We also introduce the notion of an anti-nilpotent Frobenius action on an Artinian module over a local ring and use it to study those rings for which the lattice of submodules of the local cohomology that are invariant under Frobenius satisfies the Ascending Chain Condition.

math.AC↗

arXiv2002

Indecomposable canonical modules and connectedness

The purpose of this paper is to prove a generalization of Faltings' connectedness theorem which asserts that, for a complete local domain R of dimension n, the punctured spectrum of R/I is connected if the ideal I is generated by at most n-2 elements. We replace the condition that R be a domain by the requirement that the canonical module of R be indecomposable. We also study equivalent conditions for the canonical module to be indecomposable; under mild conditions this is equivalent to the S_2-ification of the local ring to be local.

math.AC↗

arXiv2002

Localization and test exponents for tight closure

In this paper we study various equivalent conditions for tight closure to commute with localization. If N is a submodule of a finitely generated module M over a Noetherian commutative ring of characteristic p, then a test exponent for c,N,M is defined to be a power q' of p such that u is in the tight closure of N in M whenever cu^q is in the qth Frobenius power of N for some q \ge q'. We prove that that a test exponent for a locally stable test element c and for N,M as above exists if and only if the tight closure of N in M commutes with localization. Other equivalent conditions are given for tight closure to commute with localization.

math.AC↗

arXiv2002

Comparison of symbolic and ordinary powers of ideals

In this paper we generalize the theorem of Ein-Lazarsfeld-Smith (concerning the behavior of symbolic powers of prime ideals in regular rings finitely generated over a field of characteristic 0) to arbitrary regular rings containing a field. The basic theorem states that in such rings, if P is a prime ideal of height c, then for all n, the symbolic (cn)th power of P is contained in the nth power of P. Results are also given in the non-regular case: one must correct by a power of the Jacobian ideal in rings where the Jacobian ideal is defined.

math.AC↗