Algebras defined by powers of determinantal idelas (Q1178863)

Let \(X\) be an \(m\times n\)-matrix of indeterminates over a field \(K\), \(A=K[X]\) and \(I=I_ t(X)\) the ideal generated by the \(t\)-minors of \(X\). The main results of the paper concern properties of the Rees ring \({\mathcal R}=\oplus_{i\geq0}I^ it^ i\), \(t\) an indeterminate, and the associated graded ring \({\mathcal G}=\oplus_{i\geq0}I^ i/I^{i+1}\). These are closely related to the primary decomposition of \(I^ i\) determined by \textit{C. De Concini}, \textit{D. Eisenbud} and \textit{C. Procesi} [Invent. Math. 56, 129-165 (1980; Zbl 0435.14015)] for \(\text{char}(K)=0\) and by the author and \textit{U. Vetter} [``Determinantal rings'', Lect. Notes Math. 1327 (1988; Zbl 0673.13006)], for \(\text{char}(K)>\min\{m-t,n- t,t\}\). In these non-exceptional characteristics it turns out that \({\mathcal R}\) is a normal ring, which provides a primary decomposition of \(I{\mathcal R}\), the zero ideal of \({\mathcal G}\). In characteristic zero the linearly reductive group \(GL(m,K)\times GL(n,K)\) acts multiplicity free on \(A\) with \(I\) a stable ideal. Then it follows that \({\mathcal R}\) has rational singularities, in particular \({\mathcal R}\) and, hence \({\mathcal G}\), are Cohen- Macaulay rings. While in the exceptional case \({\mathcal R}\) and \({\mathcal G}\) are in general not Cohen-Macaulay rings (shown by an example with \(t=2)\) the author expects that this holds more general for non-exceptional characteristics. There is an application to the subalgebra \(S_ t\) of \(A\) generated by the \(t\)-minors of \(X\). In the case of an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero it follows that \(S_ t\) has rational singularities and, hence, is a Cohen-Macaulay ring (see also the cited book by the author and \textit{U. Vetter}, 11.E).