The monomial curves associated with balanced semigroups are set-theoretic complete intersections (Q2482062)

In the set of non-negative integers, a semigroup minimally generated by \(n_1, n_2, n_3, n_4\), with \(n_1+n_4 = n_2+n_3\), is called a balanced semigroup. It is conjectured that the minimal number of equations to define a curve in the affine \(n\)-space must be \(n-1\). Even for monomial curve, whose coordinates are powers of a parameter, only partial results are known. In the present paper the author shows that, under the assumption that the characteristic of the base field \(K\) is zero, the monomial curves \( \{ (t^{n_1},t^{n_2},t^{n_3},t^{n_4}) \;| \;t \in K \}\) associated with balanced semigroups, are set-theoretic complete intersections. The method he uses is based on the theory of lattice ideals, see author's paper [J. Algebra 299, No. 2, 689--706 (2006; Zbl 1106.14036)].