Ideals of reduction number two (Q2048852)

Let \((A,\mathfrak{m})\) be a Cohen-Macualy local ring of dimension \(d >0\). Let \(I\subset A\) be an \(\mathfrak{m}\)-primary ideal. In this work, the author studied the Hilbert function of \(I\) having reduction number \(2\). Let the Hilbert function of \(I\) be \[\ell_A(A/I^{n+1})=e_0(I)\binom{n+d}{d}-e_1(I) \binom{n+d -1}{d-1}+\cdots +(-1)^d e_d(I), \mbox { for all } n\geq 0,\] where \(e_i(I)\) is the \(i^{th}\) Hilbert coefficient of \(I\). The Northcott inequality is \(e_1(I)\geq e_0(I)-\ell_A(A/I)\), [\textit{D. G. Northcott}, J. Lond. Math. Soc. 35, 209--214 (1960; Zbl 0118.04502)]. Later Huneke and Ooishi independently showed that the equality holds in Northcott inequality if and only if \(I^2=QI\), see [\textit{C. Huneke}, Mich. Math. J. 34, 293--318 (1987; Zbl 0628.13012); \textit{A. Ooishi}, Hiroshima Math. J. 17, 361--372 (1987; Zbl 0639.13016)]. Later \textit{S. Goto} et al. showed that if \(e_1(I)\geq e_0(I)-\ell_A(A/I)+1\), then \(I^3=QI^2\) and the converse is not true, [Math. Res. Lett. 15, No. 5--6, 881--892 (2008; Zbl 1167.13012)]. In this work, the main result is that if \(d\geq 2\), \(I^3=QI^2\) and \(\mathfrak{m}I^2\subseteq QI\), then \(e_1(I)\geq e_0(I)-\ell_A(A/I)+e_2(I)\) (Theorem 3.3). Also, the author give characterizations for the equalities \(e_1(I)\geq e_0(I)-\ell_A(A/I)+e_2(I)\) and \(e_1(I)\geq e_0(I)-\ell_A(A/I)+e_2(I)+1\).