On the Cohen-Macaulay type of the general hypersurface section of a curve (Q1895786)

If a variety \(V \subset \mathbb{P}^ n\) is arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay (aCM) then the same is true of the general degree \(d\) hypersurface section \(Z\) of \(V\). The converse holds if \(\dim V \geq 2\). In the case of curves, it is interesting to ask what conditions on \(Z\) may force \(V\) to be aCM. The first step was proved by Strano: if \(n = 3\), \(V\) is integral not lying on a quadric surface, \(d = 1\) and \(Z\) is a complete intersection then \(V\) must be aCM (hence a complete intersection). This was generalized by Re (allowing higher \(n)\), Huneke-Ulrich (allowing higher \(n\) and \(d\), and \(Z\) Gorenstein), in that order. This paper is a continuation of this project. \(Z\) is allowed to have higher Cohen- Macaulay type (recall that ``Gorenstein'' means Cohen-Macaulay type 1), but it is assumed that the coordinate ring of \(Z\) is \textit{level}; that is, the last free module in a minimal free resolution of \(I_ Z\) is a direct sum of copies of the same rank one free module \(R (-m)\) (for some \(m)\). Positive results are obtained here in the following situations: (a) \(d\) is large (from the point of view of the deficiency module of \(V)\); (b) \(V\) is arithmetically Buchsbaum; and (c) \(V\) is a curve of maximal rank. (Recall that Ballico and Ellia, in a series of papers, proved that the ``general'' curve of degree \(d\) and genus \(g\) has maximal rank.) Also, many examples are given of what can and cannot be expected in the way of counterexamples. In preparation for the discussion of Buchsbaum curves, a new result is proved about the minimal free resolution of curves obtained by certain liaison techniques.