An Euler-Poincaré characteristic for improper intersections (Q1083490)

If X and Y are subvarieties of \({\mathbb{P}}^ n\) which intersect properly, and if C is an irreducible component of \(X\cap Y\), we define: \[ \chi_ A(A/{\mathfrak a},A/{\mathfrak b}):=\sum (-1)^ ilength Tor^ A_ i(A/a,A/b), \] where A is the regular local ring \({\mathcal O}_{{\mathbb{P}}^ n,C}\) of \({\mathbb{P}}^ n\) in C, and \({\mathfrak a}\) and \({\mathfrak b}\) are the ideals of X and Y in A. - In this paper this approach is extended to arbitrary pure- dimensional subschemes X and Y of \({\mathbb{P}}^ n\) by describing intersection multiplicities as developed by the authors in Curves Semin. at Queen's, Vol. 2, Kingston/Can. 1981-82, Queen's Pap. Pure Appl. Math. 61, Exp. A (1982; Zbl 0599.14003) as an Euler-Poincaré characteristic for all irreducible components C of \(X\cap Y\) with dim C\(=\dim X\cap Y\). The desired result is reached by a suitable deepening of the algebraic- geometric approach to intersection theory as presented in the cited paper. One obtains a modified and simplified version of the theory as given in the cited paper. This is demonstrated by examples. One also obtains an inductive description of the intersection multiplicities as defined in the cited paper for arbitrary improper intersections.