Borel-fixed ideals and reduction number. (Q1419016)

Let \(A\) be a standard graded algebra over an infinite field \(k\). An ideal \({\mathfrak q}=(z_1,\dots,z_s)\), where \(z_1,\dots,z_s\) are linear forms of \(A\), is called an \(s\)-reduction of \(A\) if \({\mathfrak q}_t=A_t\) for \(t\) large enough. The reduction number of \(A\) with respect to \({\mathfrak q}\), written as \(r_{\mathfrak q}(A)\) is the minimum number \(r\) such that \({\mathfrak q}_{r+1}=A_{r+1}\). The \(s\)-reduction number of \(A\) is defined as \[ r_s(A):=\min\bigl\{r_{\mathfrak q}(A)|\;{\mathfrak q}=(z_1, \dots, z_s)\text{ is a reduction of }A\bigr\}. \] Let \(I\) be a monomial ideal of the polynomial ring \(R=k[x_1,\dots,x_n]\). Let \({\mathcal B}\) denote the Borel subgroup of GL\((n,k)\) which consists of the upper triangular invertible matrices. Then \(I\) is called a Borel-fixed ideal if for all \(g\in {\mathcal B}\), \(g(I)=I\). The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between the \(s\)-reduction number and Borel-fixed ideals in all characteristics. The authors show that the reduction numbers of \(s\)-reductions of the quotient ring of a Borel-fixed ideal are attained by \(s\)-reductions generated by variables. This gives a practical way to compute the \(s\)-reduction number. The authors also show a combinatorial version of the well-known Eakin-Sathaye theorem [\textit{P. Eakin} and \textit{A. Sathaye}, J. Algebra 41, 439--454 (1976; Zbl 0348.13012)] which estimates the \(s\)-reduction number by means of the Hilbert function. Furthermore, the authors show that the bound of Eakin-Sathaye's theorem is attained by the \(s\)-reduction number when \(I\) is a lex-segment monomial ideal. This solves a recent question by \textit{A. Conca} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 131, No. 4, 1015--1020 (2003; Zbl 1015.13010)].