Segre bound for the regularity index of fat points in \(\mathbb{P}^3\) (Q1579729)

Let \(p_1,\dots,p_s\) be distinct points in \(\mathbb{P}^n\), \(R=k[X_0, \dots,X_n]\) the homogeneous coordinate ring of \(\mathbb{P}^n\) and \(I(p_i)\) the ideal of \(R\) generated by the homogeneous polynomials vanishing at \(p_i\). Let \(m_1, \dots,m_s\) be positive integers. Consider the 0-dimensional subscheme \(Z\) of \(\mathbb{P}^n\) defined by the ideal \(I=I(p_1)^{m_1}\cap \cdots\cap I(p_s)^{m_s}\) and let \(\text{reg}(Z)\) be the least integer \(t\) such that \(\dim(R_t/I_t)= \deg(Z)\). Based on some previously known results, Nqo Viet Trung conjectured that \(\text{reg} (Z)\leq\max (T_1,\dots,T_n)\) where \(T_j:=\max \{{1\over j}(m_{i_1}+ \cdots+m_{i_q}+j-2) \mid p_{i_1}, \dots,p_{i_q}\) lie on a linear \(j\)-space\}. The conjecture is known to be true if the points are in linear general position, i.e., any \(n+1\) of them span \(\mathbb{P}^n\) [cf. \textit{M. V. Catalisano}, \textit{Ngô Viêt Trung} and \textit{G. Valla}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 118, No. 3, 717-724 (1993; Zbl 0787.14030)] and if \(n=2\) [\textit{G. Fatabbi}, J. Algebra 170, No. 3, 916-928 (1994; Zbl 0821.14031)]. In the paper under review, the author proves the conjecture for \(n=3\) (particularly, recuperating the result of Fatabbi).