Syzygies of affine toric varieties (Q1972030)

A new method for computing syzygies of affine toric varieties is presented. Let \(S\) be a semigroup in \(\mathbb Z^n\) generating a strictly convex solid cone \(\mathfrak{C}\subset\mathbb R^n\), and let \(\Lambda\) be its generating set. The semigroup algebra \(R=k[S]\) defines an affine toric variety over a field \(k\). Let \(A=k[\Lambda]\) be the free polynomial algebra generated by \(\Lambda\). One has the minimal free resolution \(0\to A^{\beta_p}\to\dots\to A\to R\to 0\) of length \(p=\text{pd}R\). It is known [\textit{E. Briales, P. Pisón, A. Campillo} and \textit{C. Marijuán}, Collect. Math. 49, 239-256 (1998; Zbl 0929.13007)] that for all \(m\in S\) the \(m\)-weight subspace of the \(k\)-vector space of minimal generators of \(\text{Ker}(A^{\beta_i}\to A^{\beta_{i-1}})\) is isomorphic to \(\widetilde{H}_i(\Delta_m)\), where \(\Delta_m\) is the simplicial complex of subsets \(F\subset\Lambda\) such that \(m-\sum_{\lambda\in F}\lambda\in S\). In particular, \(\beta_{i+1}=\sum_{m\in S}\widetilde{H}_i(\Delta_m)\). For computing \(\widetilde{H}_i(\Delta_m)\), the authors introduce a long exact homology sequence \[ \dots\to H_i(\overline{D}_m)\to\widetilde{H}_i(\Delta_m)\to H_i(Q_m)\to\dots, \] where the left and right terms are certain graph homologies associated with a partition \(\Lambda=A\cup E\), and connection maps are effectively computable. A technical notion of an (effectively defined in combinatorial terms) checking set \(C_i\) such that \(H_i(\overline{D}_m)=H_i(Q_m)=\widetilde{H}_i(\Delta_m)=0\), for all \(m\notin C_i\), is also helpful. For a special partition such that \(E\) is the set of generators of the edges of \(\mathfrak{C}\), it is proved that the checking sets are finite and that \(\text{depth}R\geq q\iff H_{|\Lambda|-q}(\overline{D}_m)=0\), for all \(m\in C_{|\Lambda|-q}\). In particular, a new Cohen-Macaulay criterion for \(R\) generalizing that of \textit{S. Goto, N. Suzuki} and \textit{K. Watanabe} [Jap. J. Math., new. Ser. 2, 1-12 (1976; Zbl 0361.20066)] for the simplicial case is obtained. Minimal generators of the defining ideal of \(R\) are computed. Putting special emphasis on small-dimensional cases, the authors apply the developed theory to computing minimal free resolutions for affine and projective monomial curves.