Canonical modules and Cohen-Macaulay linkage in a local ring (Q1901017)

Two ideals \(A\) and \(B\) in the commutative ring \(R\) are linked by the ideal \(I\), if \(I \subseteq A \cap B\), \(A = I : B\), and \(B = I : A\). In the classical situation [see, for example, \textit{C. Peskine} and \textit{L. Szpiro}, Invent. Math. 26, 271-302 (1974; Zbl 0298.14022)] the ideal \(I\) is a complete intersection. Some authors have considered Gorenstein linkage (where the ideal \(I\) is a Gorenstein ideal). The present paper investigates Cohen-Macaulay linkage (where \(I\) defines a Cohen-Macaulay factor ring) in a Gorenstein local ring \(R\). It is shown that if \(B\) is a codimension two unmixed ideal whose canonical module has finite projective dimension, then there exists a Cohen-Macaulay link from \(B\) to an ideal \(A\) so that either the canonical module of \(R/A\) has depth one more than the canonical module of \(R/B\), or \(R/A\) is Cohen-Macaulay. Moreover, the ideals \(I\) and \(A\) can be described in terms of maps in the free resolution of the canonical module of \(R/B\).