Normal Rees algebras (Q1100518)

Let R be an integral domain and I an ideal of R. Let \(I_ a\) denote the integral closure of I. I is complete if \(I=I_ a\) and I is normal if each power of I is complete. It is well-known that if R is a two- dimensional regular local ring, then complete ideals are normal. The purpose of this paper is to determine conditions under which an ideal of an affine domain R is normal. The method used is to compare the Rees algebra \(R(I)=R[IT]\) and \(R_ a(I)=\oplus (I^ n)_ aT,\quad and\) in particular, to determine conditions under which the Rees algebra is normal. The main result of the first section is a criterion for the Rees algebra to satisfy Serre's normality condition \(S_ 2\). The second section gives a normality criterion for R(I). The approach used depends on access to a presentation of \(R(I)=B/J\) where B is a polynomial ring over R. The criterion is applied to several examples including hypersurface rings and almost complete intersections. The final section considers the question of deciding the normality of R(I) from the point of view of computer algebra. A simple procedure to obtain the previously mentioned ideal J from a computer program able to generate the Gröbner basis of an ideal is given.