Determinantal ideals of linear type of a generic symmetric matrix (Q1176677)

Let \(X=(x_{ij})\) be a generic symmetric \(n\times n\) matrix over a commutative ring \(R\). For \(1\leq t\leq n\), let \(I=I_ t(X)\) denote the ideal of \(A=R[X]\) generated by the \(t\)-minors of \(X\). \textit{C. Huneke} [Arch. Math. 47, 324-329 (1986; Zbl 0613.14037)] asked when \(I\) is of linear type, i.e. when the symmetric algebra \(S_ A(I)\) of \(I\) is isomorphic to the Rees algebra \(A[IT]\) of \(I\). The main result of this paper states that \(I\) is of linear type if and only if \(t=1\), \(n-1\), \(n\). To show that \(I\) is of linear type when \(t=n- 1\) the author constructs a free basic for \(S_ A(I)\). For this he uses the free basis for \(R[X,Y]/I_ 1(XY)\) given by \textit{G. C. M. Ruitenburg} [Commun. Algebra 16, No. 10, 1993-2011 (1988; Zbl 0664.20025)], \(Y=(y_{ij})\) being another generic symmetric \(n\times n\) matrix. The construction is based on the observations that \(S_ A(I)\cong R[X,Y]/I_ 1(XY=b Id)\), where \(b=\sum x_{1i}y_{i1}\), and that \(b\) is a non-zerodivisor on \(I_ 1(XY-b Id)\). Moreover, the author also shows that \(S_ A(I)\) is a Krull (respectively normal) domain if and only if so is \(R\) and \(t=1\), \(n-1\), \(n\). In this case, the divisor class group of \(S_ A(I)\) is isomorphic to \(Cl(R)\oplus\mathbb{Z}\) when \(t=1\), \(Cl(R)\oplus\mathbb{Z}^{n-1}\) when \(t=n-1\), and \(Cl(R)\) when \(t=n\).