Stanley-Reisner rings of simplicial complexes with a free action by an abelian group (Q1627825)

Since the 1970's, an extensive dictionary translating the topological and combinatorial properties of a simplicial complex \(\Delta\) into algebraic properties of the associated Stanley-Reisner ring \(\mathbb{K}[\Delta]\) has been constructed. For instance, the local cohomology modules \(H^i_{\mathfrak{m}}(\mathbb{K}[\Delta])\) of \(\mathbb{K}[\Delta]\) have a beautiful interpretation due to Hochster. In the paper under review, the simplicial complexes admitting a free action by an abelian group are investigated. Specifically, the author establishes a refinement of Hochster's result, demonstrating that the topological structure of the free action extends to the algebraic setting. If the complex in question is also Buchsbaum, this new description allows for a specialization of Schenzel's calculation of the Hilbert series of some of the ring's Artinian reductions. In further application, the author generalizes to the Buchsbaum case the results of Stanley and Adin that provide a lower bound on the \(h\)-vector of a Cohen-Macaulay complex admitting a free action by a cyclic group of prime order.