An application of liaison theory to zero-dimensional schemes (Q2200904)

The main goal of this article under review is to extend results on the Cayley-Bacharach properties of \(K\)-rational points in \(\mathbb P^n_k\) to arbitrary 0-dimensional subschemes over an arbitrary field \(K\) using the technique of liaison theory. The Cayley-Bacharach property of a set of \(K\)-points \(Z\) in \(\mathbb P^n_k\) is well-studied. Among others cited in the paper, [\textit{P. Griffiths} and \textit{J. Harris}, Ann. Math. (2) 108, 461--505 (1978; Zbl 0423.14001); \textit{D. Eisenbud} et al., Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 33, No. 3, 295--324 (1996; Zbl 0871.14024)] are important references. We say \(Z \subset \mathbb{P}^n\) satisfies the Cayley-Bacharach property with respect to the linear system \(|\mathcal O(l)|\) (abbreviated \(CBP(l)\)) if whenever a divisor \(D\) in \(|\mathcal O(l)|\) contains a co-length one subscheme of \(Z\), it must contain all of \(Z\). This definition is subtly extended for arbitrary \(0\)-dimensional subschemes \(Z\) over an arbitrary field \(K\) using the notion of ``maximal \(p_j\) subschemes''. The regularity index \(r_Z\) of \(Z\) is the minimal degree after which the Hilbert function and the Hilbert polynomial of \(Z\) coincide. The scheme \(Z\) is said to be a Cayley-Bacharach scheme if it satisfies \(CBP(r_Z-1)\), which is the highest possible degree \(d\) such that \(Z\) can satisfy \(CBP(d)\). It is known that for a set of \(K\)-points \(Z\), being a Cayley-Bacharach scheme is equivalent to the condition b) where a generic element of the least degree in the ideal of its link in a complete intersection does not vanish anywhere on \(Z\). The main result of this paper is Theorem 3.5 which characterizes the property of being a Cayley-Bacharach scheme in terms of different conditions on its link. The authors show that condition b) is only sufficient but necessary for \(Z\) to be a Cayley-Bacharach scheme in the general setting. Last but not least, the authors characterize the Cayley-Bacharach property of degree \(d\) using the canonical module of \(Z\), and use this result to give an equivalent condition for \(Z\) to be arithmetic Gorenstein in terms of the Hilbert function of the Dedekind different of \(Z\).