Set-theoretic complete intersection monomial curves in affine four space (Q2376707)

This paper is an investigation of monomial curves in affine space. In particular, let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field and \(n_1, \dots, n_N\) be natural numbers with \(N \geq 1\) such that \(\gcd(n_1, \dots, n_N) = 1\). A monomial curve in affine \(N\) space, \(\mathbb A^N\), over \(k\) is defined as \(C = \{(t^{n_1}, t^{n_2}, \dots, t^{n_N}) \mid t \in k\} \subset \mathbb A^N\). We say that \(C\) is a set-theoretic complete intersection (denoted stci) if it is defined by \(N-1\) polynomials. That is, \(C\) is a stci if \(C = \{P \in \mathbb A^N \mid g_1(P) = g_2(P) = \cdots = g_{N-1}(P) = 0\}\) for some polynomials \(g_1, \dots, g_{N-1} \in k[x_1, \dots, x_N]\). Determining if every monomial curve \(C\) is a stci is an open problem which is a special case of Kronecker's Problem which asks the same question but for affine curves (removing the monomial condition). The problem has been answered positively in the following cases: if \(N=3\), and if \(N=4\) when the defining ideal is Gorenstein or an almost complete intersection (the author suggests the references \textit{H. Bresinsky} [Manuscr. Math. 27, 353--358 (1979; Zbl 0407.14022)], \textit{K. Eto} [Commun. Algebra 22, No. 13, 5325--5342 (1994; Zbl 0838.14022)], and \textit{E. Kunz} [Introduction to commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. Transl. from the German by Michael Ackerman. With a preface by David Mumford. Reprint of the 1985 edition. New York, NY: Birkhäuser/Springer (2013; Zbl 1263.13001)]). The main result of this paper is the verification that a monomial curve \(C\) is a stci if \(N=4\) and if the least number of \(n_1, n_2, n_3, n_4\) is less than or equal to 13. This follows by reducing the situation to finite cases and by carefully applying modular arithmetic. The paper involves technical steps, but is well-written and includes useful examples.