The invariance of Hilbert functions of quotients under small perturbations (Q1125868)

Let \((R,{\mathfrak m})\) be a Noetherian local ring of dimension \(d\). Let \(J\subset R\) be an \(\mathfrak m\)-primary ideal and let \(P\in {\mathbb{Q}}[Z]\) be a polynomial of degree \(d-r\). Let \[ S_P=\{ (f_1,\ldots,f_r)\in {\mathfrak m}^{\oplus r}\mid {\text{length}}(R/J^n+(f_1,\ldots,f_r))=P(n)\;{\text{for all large}} n\}. \] The authors consider the question whether the set \(S_P\) is an open subset of \({\mathfrak m}^{\oplus r}\) with respect to the \({\mathfrak m}\)-adic topology or not. They show the openness of \(S_P\) for generalized Cohen-Macaulay local rings. Precisely the following theorem is proven: Let \(I,J\) be ideals of \(R\) such that (1) \(R/I\) is generalized Cohen-Macaulay, (2) \(I\) is generated by an \(f\)-regular sequence \(f_1,\ldots,f_r\), and (3) \(I+J\) is \({\mathfrak m}\)-primary. Then there exists a natural number \(N\) such that for every ideal \(I_N \subset \{(f_1+g_1,\ldots,f_r+g_r)\mid g_1,\ldots,g_r\in {\mathfrak m}^N\}\), we have an isomorphism \({\text{gr}}_J(R/I)\cong {\text{gr}}_J(R/I_N)\). (\(R\) is called generalized Cohen-Macaulay if \(H_{\mathfrak m}^i(R)\) is of finite length for \(0\leq i < {\text{dim}} R\). A sequence \(f_1,\ldots,f_r\in {\mathfrak m}\) is said to form an \(f\)-regular sequence if \[ ((f_1,\ldots,f_{i-1}):f_i )\subseteq \{x\in R\mid x{\mathfrak m}^n\subseteq (f_1,\ldots,f_{i-1})\;{\text{for some}} n\in{\mathbb{N}}\} \] for \(1\leq i\leq r\).) In the case where \(R\) is Buchsbaum, not assuming that \(I+J\) is \({\mathfrak m}\)-primary, similar isomorphisms are given under little different conditions. The authors give examples of Noetherian local rings to show that the theorem is false if we merely assume that \(R/I\) is Cohen-Macaulay. Some related questions are mentioned, and we can find comments on them in a note added in proof.