Fermat-type configurations of lines in \(\mathbb{P}^3\) and the containment problem (Q1743017)

The main aim of the paper is to deliver a new counterexample to the containment problem for symbolic and ordinary powers of homogeneous ideals in \(\mathbb{K}[x_{0},x_{1},x_{2},x_{3}]\). After a pioneering paper by \textit{L. Ein} et al. [Invent. Math. 144, No. 2, 241--252 (2001; Zbl 1076.13501)] the following natural conjecture arised. Conjecture. Let \(I\) be a non-zero homogeneous ideal \(I\) in \(\mathbb{K}[x_{0},\dots,x_{n}]\) such that \(\mathrm{codim}(\mathrm{Zeros}(I)) = e\), then \[ I^{(m)} \subset I^{r} \] for \(m \geq er - (e-1)\). Here by \(I^{(m)}\) we denote the \(m\)-th symbolic power of \(I\). The main contribution of the authors is a new counterexample to the above conjecture in the case \(n=3\) and \(e=2\). Main Theorem. There exists an arrangement of lines in \(\mathbb{P}^{3}_{\mathbb{C}}\), not all passing through the same point, such that for its defining ideal \(I\) one has \[ I^{(3)} \not \subseteq I^{2}. \] The mentioned line arrangement is given by \(4k^{2} + 6\) lines of multiplicity \(\geq 3\) defined as the intersections of \(6k\) hyperplanes from the Fermat arrangement with -- a well-known reflection arrangement.