Graded rings associated with contracted ideals (Q1770449)

Let \(R\) be either a polynomial ring over a field or a regular local ring, \( m\) the (homogeneous) maximal ideal of \(R\), and \(k=R/ m\) an algebraically closed of characteristic zero. The paper is devoted to the study of contracted (homogeneous) \(m\)-primary ideals \(I\) of \(R\) when \(\dim R=2\). After presenting several characterizations of contracted ideals, the authors determine the depth of gr\(_I(R)\) in terms of the local data of the transform of \(I\). Zariski's factorization theorem for contracted ideals allows one to reduce the study to the case of lex-segment ideals in \(k[x,y]\). In their study of lex-segment ideals, the authors find several classes for which the associated graded ring has positive depth or is Cohen-Macaulay, and for which the defining equations of the Rees algebra can be explicitly described. For a contracted ideal with a square-free characteristic form, gr\(_I(R)\), the Rees algebra, and the fiber cone are all Cohen-Macaulay rings with expected defining equations. Illuminating examples provide added value to this very well written paper.