The Hilbert series and \(a\)-invariant of circle invariants (Q1672038)

For $a=(a_1,\ldots,a_n)\in {\mathbb{Z}}^n$ denote by $V_a$ the $n$-dimensional representation of the multiplicative group ${\mathbb{C}}^\times$ of ${\mathbb{C}}$ with weight vector $a$. That is, $V_a$ is an $n$-dimensional complex vector space having a basis $e_1,\dots,e_n$ such that $z\in \mathbb{C}^\times$ maps $e_i$ to $z^{a_i}e_i$ for $i=1,\dots,n$. The corresponding algebra $\mathbb{C}[V_a]^{\mathbb{C}^\times}$ of polynomial invariants is a graded subalgebra of the $n$-variable polynomial ring $\mathbb{C}[V_a]$, and the authors study its Hilbert series $\mathrm{Hilb}_a(t)$. It is sufficient to deal with the case $a_1,\dots,a_k<0$, $a_{k+1},\dots,a_n>0$, where $1 < k < n$. By the Molien-Weyl formula $\mathrm{Hilb}_a(t)$ can be computed by evaluating residues of complex rational functions. When $a_1,\dots,a_k$ are all distinct (generic case), this leads to a nice expression for $\mathrm{Hilb}_a(t)$. In the degenerate case (when $a_1,\dots,a_k$ are not all distinct) this direct approach does not seem to lead to an attractive result. The authors are able to overcome this difficulty and express $\mathrm{Hilb}_a(t)$ as a limit of simpler expressions resembling the generic case. Moreover, they develop formulae for the first four coefficients in the Laurent series expansion at $t=1$ of $\mathrm{Hilb}_a(t)$ in terms of so-called partial Schur polynomials. They express the $a$-invariant of $\mathbb{C}[V_a]^{\mathbb{C}^\times}$ when this ring is Gorenstein, and apply the result to find weight vectors with Gorenstein and non-Gorenstein invariant algebras.