General elements and joint reductions (Q1116981)

Let \(Q\) be a noetherian local ring of maximal ideal \(\mathfrak m\), \(d=\dim(Q)\), \(k=Q/\mathfrak m\). Let \(Q_ g\) be the localization of \(Q[X_ 1,X_ 2,\ldots]\) at the prime ideal \(\mathfrak m[X_ 1,X_ 2,\ldots]\). Let \(I=(I_ 1,\ldots,I_ s)\) be a set of ideals of \(Q\). For \(a_{il},\ldots,a_{in_ i}\) a set of generators of \(I_ i\), let \(X_{i,j}=X_{n_ 1+\ldots+n_{i-1}+j}\) for \(j=1,\ldots,n_ i\). Let \(x_ i=\sum^{n_ i}_{j=1}X_{i,j}a_{ij}\). \(x_ 1,\ldots,x_ s\) is called a standard independent set of general elements of \(I\). \(x_ 1,\ldots,x_ s\) is called an independent set of general elements of \(I\) if there is an automorphism of \(Q_ g\) which fixes the elements of \(Q\) and almost all variables, such that the images of \(x_ 1,\ldots,x_ s\) form a standard set of general elements of \(I\). Furthermore, let \(I=(I_ 1,\ldots,I_ d)\) be a set of \(\mathfrak m\)-primary ideals of \(Q\). Elements \(y_ 1,\ldots,y_ d\) of \(Q\), \(y_ i\in I_ i\) form a joint reduction of \(I\) if for some \(r\), \[ (I_ l\cdots I_ d)^{r+1}=\sum^{d}_{i=1}y_ i(I_ l,\ldots,I_ d)^ rI_ 1\cdots I_{i-1}I_{i+1}\cdots I_ d. \] It is shown that joint reductions exist if \(k\) is infinite. Let \(X(I)=(x_ 1,\ldots,x_ s)\cap Q\), where \(x_ 1,\ldots,x_ s\) is an independent set of general elements for \(I\). It is shown that \(X(I)\) is contained in the ideal generated by the elements of a joint reduction of \(I\) if \(Q\) is Cohen-Macaulay, and that this may not be true if \(Q\) is not Cohen-Macaulay. Finally, a generalization of the theorem of Briançon-Skoda [cf. [\textit{J. Lipman} and \textit{A. Sathaya}, Mich. Math. J. 28, 199--222 (1981; Zbl 0438.13019)]) is obtained.