Some special configurations of points in \(\mathbb P^n\) (Q1415349)

The authors provide contributions to the study of the following two questions about finite sets of points in \(\mathbb P^n\): 1) For sets of points having a fixed Hilbert function \(\mathbb{H}\), what are all possible graded Betti numbers? 2) What can be the Hilbert function of a level Artinian algebra? As for question 1), the authors use various kinds of special configurations of points which they call skew configurations and which generalize their earlier \(k\)-configurations [\textit{A. V. Geramita}, \textit{T. Harima} and \textit{Y. S. Shin}, Ill. J. Math. 45, 1--23 (2001; Zbl 1095.13500) and Can. J. Math. 53, 923--943 (2001; Zbl 1006.14017)]. Based on an addition theorem for Hilbert functions of skew configurations and an addition theorem for their resolutions, they are able to construct special sets of points with the same Hilbert function, but with lots of different collections of graded Betti numbers. As for question 2), skew configurations are not so useful. Since the first open question is which Hilbert functions are possible for level Artinian algebras of codimension 3, the authors try to use special configurations of points in \(\mathbb P^2\) to construct examples. In fact, using pure configurations -- as introduced by \textit{T. Harima} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 135, 45--56 (1999; Zbl 0931.13014)] -- they are able to classify all Hilbert functions of level algebras of type 2 and socle degree \(\leq 5\). Finally, the authors show that certain Hilbert functions \(\mathbb{H}\) have the property that every set of points in \(\mathbb P^2\) with this Hilbert function is special.