On ideals generated by \(a\)-fold products of linear forms (Q2074407)

Let \(\mathbb K\) be any field and let \(R = \mathbb K[x_1,\dots,x_k]\). Let \(\ell_1,\dots,\ell_n\) be linear forms in \(R\), possibly proportional. For \(1 \leq a \leq n\) the author defines the ideal \(I_a(\Sigma) = \langle \{ \ell_{i_1}\cdots \ell_{i_a} \ | \ 1 \leq i_1 < \cdots < i_a \leq n \}\). Such ideals arise, for instance, in studying star configurations and their generalizations. They also arise in studying linear codes. The problem addressed in this paper is to find the minimal free resolution of \(I_a(\Sigma)\). A well-known conjecture is that for any such \(\Sigma \subset R\) and any \(1 \leq a \leq |\Sigma|\), the ideals \(I_a(\Sigma)\) have linear graded free resolutions. It has also been conjectured that any ordinary power of the defining ideal of a star configuration has a certain primary decomposition. The first important result of this paper shows that for a hyperplane arrangement \(\mathcal A = \{ \ell_1,\dots,\ell_n \} \subset R\), the \(R\)-module \(R/I_{n-2}(\mathcal A)\) has a linear minimal free resolution. The author goes on to prove the main result, which is that even when proportionality occurs (so it is no longer an arrangement) the same conclusion holds. As a result he proves a result about primary decompositions of certain ordinary powers. He also give results about Orlik-Terao algebras of second order -- this is the algebra generated by the reciprocals of the products of any two (distinct) linear forms from the collection.