Characteristic-independence of Betti numbers of graph ideals (Q2368652): Difference between revisions

In general the Betti numbers of monomial ideals may depend on the characteristic of the base field, see for instance \textit{G. Reisner} [Adv. Math. 21, 30--49 (1976; Zbl 0345.13017)] and \textit{M. Estrada} and \textit{R. Villarreal} [Arch. Math. 68, 124--128 (1971; Zbl 0869.13003)]. The aim of the paper under review is to investigate this dependence for Stanley-Reisner rings which are quotients by monomial ideals generated in degree 2. \textit{N. Terai} and \textit{T. Hibi} [Discrete Math. 157, No. 1--3, 311--320 (1996; Zbl 0862.13005)] have shown that the 3rd and 4th Betti numbers of these Stanley-Reisner rings do not depend on the ground field. The author of this paper extends the previous result and shows that the 5th and 6th Betti numbers are also independent of the base field. Katzman shows that any such Stanley-Reisner ring whose Betti number depends on the base field must involve at least 11 variables. Examining more than 2 million graphs the author shows that there exist precisely 4 unlabelled graphs with 11 vertices whose Betti numbers depend on the base field.