Powers of sums and their associated primes (Q2121404)

Let \(A\) and \(B\) be standard graded polynomial rings over a field \(\mathbf{k}\), and let \(I\subseteq A\), \(J\subseteq B\) be homogeneous ideals. Denote by \(R=A\otimes_{\mathbf{k}} B\) and by \(I+J\) the ideal \(IR+JR\). There are certain homological invariants of powers of \(I+J\), such as the depth and regularity, that can be computed in terms of those of \(I\) and \(J\). The present paper faces the problem of studying \(\mathrm{Ass}(R/(I+J)^n)\) in terms of the associated primes of powers of \(I\) and \(J\). The main result is a partial answer to this problem, namely a closed formula for the case that \(\mathrm{Ass}(A/I^n)=\mathrm{Ass}(I^{n-1}/I^n)\) for all \(n\geq 1\), and \(J\) is any proper homogeneous ideal of \(B\). The hypothesis that \(\mathrm{Ass}(A/I^n)=\mathrm{Ass}(I^{n-1}/I^n)\) for all \(n\geq 1\) holds in many cases, for example if \(I\) is a monomial ideal, or if \(\mathrm{char}\, \mathbf{k}=0\) and \(\dim(A/I)\leq 1\) for example. The authors study also the persistence property for associated primes. They prove that if \(I\) is a monomial ideal satisfying the persistence property and \(J\) is any ideal, then \(I+J\) also has the persistence property. Another result in this direction is the proof that if \(I\) is an ideal such that \(I^{n+1}:I=I^n\) for all \(n\geq 1\), then for any ideal \(J\) of \(B\), the sum \(I+J\) has the persistence property.