Multiplicity sequence and integral dependence (Q2205562)

In a formally equidimensional local ring \((R, \mathfrak{m})\), the multiplicity \(e(I)\) of an \(\mathfrak{m}\)-primary ideal \(I\) characterizes the integral closure of the ideal; that is, if \(J\) is another ideal with \(I \subseteq J\), then \(J\) and \(I\) have the same integral closure (or equivalently, \(I\) is a reduction of \(J\)) if and only if \(e(I)=e(J)\). The \(j\)-multiplicity \(j(I)\) of the ideal \(I\), introduced by \textit{R. Achilles} and \textit{M. Manaresi} [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 33, No. 4, 1029--1046 (1993; Zbl 0816.13019)], is an invariant defined for arbitrary ideals which coincides with the classical multiplicity \(e(I)\) in the \(\mathfrak{m}\)-primary case. Further expanding this concept, \textit{R. Achilles} and \textit{M. Manaresi} [Math. Ann. 309, No. 4, 573--591 (1997; Zbl 0894.14005)] defined an entire sequence of generalized multiplicities \(c_0(I), \ldots, c_d(I)\) with \(d=\dim R\) where the first element \(c_0(I)\) is the same as the \(j\)-multiplicity \(j(I)\). \textit{H. Flenner} and \textit{M. Manaresi} [Math. Z. 238, No. 1, 205--214 (2001; Zbl 1037.13001)] proved that if \(I \subseteq J\) are arbitrary ideals in a formally equidimensional local ring, then \(I\) is a reduction of \(J\) if and only if \(j(I_\mathfrak{p})=j(J_\mathfrak{p})\) for all the prime ideals \(\mathfrak{p}\) in \(R\). This numerical characterization of the integral closure works for arbitrary ideals; however, it would be useful to have a characterization that only involves invariants that can be computed by considering only the ring \(R\) and not all of its localizations. From a computational point of view, this would be an essential requirement. The sequence of generalized multiplicities \(c_0(I),\ldots, c_d(I)\) is the natural candidate for obtaining such a characterization. The reviewer [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 178, No. 1, 25--48 (2003; Zbl 1088.13501)] already proved that if \(I\subseteq J\) is a reduction, then \(c_k(I)=c_k(J)\) for all \(k=0,\ldots, d\). In this paper the authors show that the converse is true as well: if \((R, \mathfrak{m})\) is a formally equidimensional local ring and \(I \subseteq J\) are ideals such that \(c_k(I)=c_k(J)\) for all \(k\), then \(I\) is a reduction of \(J\).