The Rees algebra of a positive normal affine semigroup ring. (Q2494326)

In this nice paper the author studies the integral closure of the Rees algebra \(R[mt]\) in \(R[t]\) when \(R\) is a positive normal affine semigroup ring and \(m\) is the maximal homogeneous ideal of \(R\). The main result is that the integral closure \(\overline{m^{n+1}} = m\overline{m^{n}}\) for all \(n \geq d -2\) where \(d = \dim R\). The author also shows that if \(I\) is an integrally closed ideal in \(R\) then \(\overline{I^{n+1}} = I\overline{I^{n}}\) for all \(n \geq d -1\) (The proof shows that \(n \geq \ell(IR_{m})\) works.) This generalizes a result due to \textit{L. Reid, L. Roberts} and \textit{M. A. Vitulli} (see [Commun. Algebra 31, No.9, 4485--4506 (2003; Zbl 1021.13008)], 3.1). The author also illustrates his results with relevant examples. The author notes that \(R_m\) is pseudo-rational. So \(R[mt]\) is Cohen-Macaulay if and only if \(\text{gr}_{m}(R)\) is Cohen-Macaulay. When \(R\) is a hypersurface ring, i.e., \(m\) is generated by \(d+1\) elements, then the author gives a necessary and sufficient condition for \(R[mt]\) to be normal. In this case the Rees ring \(R[mt]\) is always Cohen-Macaulay.