A sharp bound for the minimal number of generators of perfect height two ideals (Q1073103)

Let (R,M) be a regular local ring, and let I be a perfect ideal of R - i.e., the factor ring \(A=R/I\) is Cohen-Macaulay. The author observes that if I has height h and \(I\subset M^ t\), then \(e(A)=(h^{t-1+h})+\ell (M^ t/(I+(X.)M^{t-1}))\) where e(A) is the multiplicity of A and (X.) is the preimage in M of a minimal reduction of M/I in A. Therefore, if \(h=2\) and v(I) denotes the minimal number of generators of I, then \(v(I)(v(I)-1)\leq 2e(A).\) Examples are given of height two perfect ideals I for which this is an equality and several characterizations are given of such ideals I involving the existence of a standard basis for I of elements of order v(I)-1, and properties of the Hilbert function of R/I.