Reducible family of height three level algebras (Q2518353)

Let \(R=k[x_1,\dots, x_r]\) be a polynomial ring over an infinite field \(k\) and let \(M\) be the irrelevant maximal ideal. A level algebra \(A\) is a graded Artinian quotient of \(R\) having socle \((0:M)\) in a single degree \(j\). If \(H(A)=(1,h_1,\dots,h_j)\), \(h_i=\dim_k A_i\) is its Hilbert function, we call the number \(h_j\) the type of \(A\). The present paper determines completely up to closure the family \({\text{ LevAlg}}(H)\) of level algebras having Hilbert function \(H\), for \(H=(1,3,4,4)\) and \(H=(1,3,6,8,9,3)\). Both schemes have two irreducible components of dimension 8 and 34 respectively, and members determining all possible sets of graded Betti numbers are described. In the former case the intersection of the components is irreducible. It is nice to see how the authors count parameters of each strata to find the dimensions. As a consequence they are able to separate irreducible components also in the case the semi-continuity of the graded Betti numbers does not apply, [cf. Rend. Circ. Mat. Palermo, II. Ser. 53, No. 3, 401--406 (2004; Zbl 1099.13029 )] by \textit{G. Zappalá} and \textit{A. Ragusa}. The corresponding families of zero-dimensional schemes of 12 and 30 points with fixed Hilbert function consist also each of two irreducible components, but with a reducible intersection for \(H=(1,4,8,12,12,\dots)\). In the Artinian case they show that the second example is the first in an infinite sequence of examples of type 3 level algebras in which the number of components of \({\text{ LevAlg}}(H)\) gets arbitrary large. Level algebras of type one are Gorenstein in which case the corresponding scheme \({\text{ LevAlg}}(H)\) is irreducible by a result of \textit{S. Diesel} [Pac. J. Math. 172, No. 2, 365--397 (1996; Zbl 0882.13021)]. The smallest type of level algebras for which \({\text{ LevAlg}}(H)\) may be reducible is of type two. As originally conjectured by the second author, such examples exist [cf. J. Algebra 311, No. 2, 665--701 (2007; Zbl 1129.14009)] of the reviewer.