Hilbert functions and symbolic powers (Q1092960)

Let p be a prime ideal of the regular local ring R, and let \(p^{(n)}=p^ nR_ p\cap R\) be the n-th symbolic power of p. \textit{R. Cowsik} [in Algebra and its Applications, Int. Symp., New Delhi 1981, Lect. Notes Pure Appl. Math. 91, 13-14 (1984; Zbl 0562.13002)] asks whether the ring \(\oplus p^{(n)}\) is Noetherian; this question motivates much of the work in this paper. For a non-regular ring R counterexamples date back to \textit{D. Rees} [Ill. J. Math. 2, 149-159 (1958; Zbl 0078.027)]; but \textit{P. Roberts} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 94, 589- 592 (1985; Zbl 0589.13008)] gives a height 2 prime p of the localization of \({\mathbb{C}}[X,Y,Z]\) at the origin, with \(\oplus_{n\geq 0}p^{(n)}\) not Noetherian. One of the main results of the present paper gives necessary and sufficient conditions for \(\oplus p^{(n)}\) to be Noetherian when p has the height 2 and \(\dim (R)=3\). The proof of this and related results requires an analysis of Hilbert functions of m-primary ideals of a 2- dimensional local Cohen-Macaulay ring \((R,m)\). The paper thus contains a wealth of interesting material about such functions and further results regarding Cowsik's original problem.