On the Hilbert functions of multiplicity ideals (Q1320229)

Let \(X_ g\) be the space of binary forms of degree \(g\), and let \(X_{p,g}\) be the subspace of forms having a root of multiplicity \(p\). \(X_ g\) can be identified with \(\text{Spec} R_ g\), where \(R_ g=\text{Sym} (S_ gV)\) for a fixed two-dimensional vector space \(V\) over \(\mathbb{C}\). Let \(J_{p,g}\) be the ideal of polynomials in \(R_ g\) vanishing on \(X_{p,g}\). For \(p=2\) it is well known that \(J_{p,g}\) is generated by one element of degree \(2g-2\), namely the discriminant. In this paper a formula for the dimensions of the graded pieces of \(J_{p,g}\) in the general case is derived. If \(g-1=(p-1) h+1\), \(0 \leq 1<p-1\), it is conjectured that \(J_{p,g}\) is generated by its elements of degrees \(2h\), \(2h+1\), and \(2h+2\).