Quadratic complete intersections (Q2218997)

The paper studies Betti numbers of graded finitely generated modules over a quadratic complete intersection. Let \(k\) be a (algebrically closed) field of characteristic not \(2\), and let \(K = k(z_1,\ldots, z_m)\) be the field of rational functions in \(m\) variables over \(k\). Suppose that \(f_1,\ldots, f_m \in k[x_1,\ldots,x_c]\) are quadratic forms, and consider the form \(f = \sum_iz_if_i\) which is quadratic over \(K\). \(f\) defines a quadratic function on a vector space \(V\) over the field \(K\). In the first main theorem of the paper, it is shown that ideal \((f_1,\ldots,f_m)\) contains a power of \((x_1,\ldots,x_c)\) if and only if the Clifford algebra Cliff\(_K(f)\) of \(f\) over \(K\) is a division algebra. Besides its own interest, this result provides information on the eventual Betti numbers of modules over the quotient ring \(k[x_1,\ldots,x_c,z_1,\ldots,z_m]_{(x_1,\ldots,x_c)}/(f)\) In the rest of the paper, the authors obtain a simplification and sharpening, in the case of quadratic complete intersections, of the formulas for Betti numbers given, in the more general case, in [\textit{D. Eisenbud} and \textit{I. Peeva}, Minimal free resolutions over complete intersections. Cham: Springer (2016; Zbl 1342.13001)].