On Segre bound for the regularity index of fat points in \(\mathbb{P}^2\) (Q1293712)

Let \(Z\subset\mathbb{P}^2\) be a zero-dimensional subscheme consisting of fat points, i.e. let \(\text{Supp}(Z) =\{P_1,\dots,P_s\}\) and \({\mathcal O}_{Z,P_i}={\mathcal O}_{\mathbb{P}^2,P_i}/{\mathfrak m}^{m_i}_{\mathbb{P}^2,P_i}\) with \(m_i\geq 1\) for \(i=1,\dots,s\). The regularity bound \(r(Z)\leq\max\{h-1, \lfloor{1\over 2}\sum^s_{i=1} m_i\rfloor\}\), where \(h=\max\{\sum^k_{j=1} m_{i_j} \mid P_{i_1},\dots,P_{i_k}\) collinear\}, was shown by \textit{G. Fatabbi} [J. Algebra 170, No. 3, 916-928 (1994; Zbl 0821.14031)]. The author gives a new, shorter, and more algebraic proof based on methods of \textit{M. V. Catalisano}, \textit{Ngô Viêt Trung} and \textit{G. Valla} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 118, No. 3, 717-724 (1993; Zbl 0787.14030)]. He also points out the critical problem which needs to be adressed if one intends to extend this bound to schemes of fat points in \(\mathbb{P}^n\) with \(n\geq 3\).