Resolutions of determinantal ideals: \(n\)-minors of \((n+2)\)-square matrices (Q1201328)

Let \(A\) be a commutative ring, and \(S=A[X]\) the polynomial ring over \(A\) in the indeterminates \(X_{ij}\) forming the \(m\times n\) matrix \(X\). Denote the ideal of \(S\) generated by the \(t\)-minors of \(X\) by \(I_ t\). For quite a while it had been an open problem whether the Betti numbers of \(S/I_ t\) are independent of the characteristic of \(A\). The hope for a positive answer was supported by the characteristic free minimal resolutions constructed by Hilbert for \(t=1\) (the Koszul complex), by Eagon and Northcott in the case \(t=\min(m,n)\) and by Akin, Buchsbaum, and Weyman for \(t=\min(m,n)-1\). In the paper under review it is shown that also in the case \(t+2=m=n\) the Betti numbers of \(S/I_ t\) do not depend on the characteristic of \(A\). It follows from this fact that there exists a characteristic free minimal resolution. The authors use the characteristic free representation theory of the general linear group developed by \textit{K. Akin}, \textit{D. A. Buchsbaum} and \textit{J. Weyman} [Adv. Math. 44, 207-278 (1982; Zbl 0497.15020)]. They extend it by providing a `Cauchy formula' for the symmetric algebra of the tensor product of morphisms of finite free modules. (The highly technical details of the article defy an adequate representation in a short review.) In subsequent work \textit{M. Hashimoto} gave an essentially complete answer to the problem of the independence of the Betti numbers; he proved their independence in the more general case in which \(t=\min(m,n)-2\) [J. Algebra 142, No. 2, 456-491 (1991; Zbl 0743.13007)], and showed that in all the cases with \(2<t\leq\min(m,n)-3\) they indeed depend on the characteristic [Nagoya Math. J. 118, 203-216 (1990; Zbl 0707.13005)].