On the inequality \(\lambda (\bar R/R)\leq t(R)\lambda (R/{\mathfrak C})\) for one-dimensional local rings (Q1336477)

Let \((R,m)\) be a one-dimensional Cohen-Macaulay local ring which is reduced and excellent with infinite residue field. The integral closure is denoted by \(\overline R\), the Cohen-Macaulay type by \(t(R)\), the multiplicity by \(e(R)\) the conductor by \(C\) and length by \(\lambda\). \textit{W. C. Brown} and \textit{J. Herzog} [J. Algebra 151, No. 2, 332-347 (1992; Zbl 0773.13006)] have shown that the integer \(\ell^* (R) = t(R) \lambda (R/C) - \lambda (\overline R/R)\) is never negative. In this note the author extends some of the results on the classification of rings in terms of \(\ell^*\) when \(R\) is not Gorenstein \((\ell^* (R) = 0\) in the Gorenstein case). The main result states that, for every \(a\) satisfying \(0 \leq a \leq t(R)\), \(\ell^* (R) = a\) and \(t(R) = e(R) - 1\) if and only if, for each minimal reduction \(xR\) of \(m\), \(m = xR + C\) and \(\lambda (C/x^ p \overline R) = a\) with \(p\) minimal satisfying \(x^ p \in C\). -- Further, for \(a \leq t(R)-2\), the condition \(t(R) = e(R)-1\) is redundant. Brown and Herzog deal with the cases \(a=0, 1\). The author similarly extends their enumeration of all semi-group rings \(R=k[[y^{s_ 1}, \dots, y^{s_ n}]]\) with \(t(R) = e(R) - 1 \geq \ell^* (R)\) from the cases \(\ell^* (R) = 0, 1\) to the general case.