Regularity of path ideals of gap free graphs (Q2627969)

For any simple graph \(G = (V , E)\) and for any integer \(t\geq3\), the \(t\)-path ideal \(I_t(G)\)(or simply \(I_t\) if the choice for \(G\) is understood) of \(G\) is the square free monomial ideal generated by the t-paths of \(G\) in the polynomial ring on the vertices of \(G\) (defined by \textit{A. Conca} and \textit{E. De Negri} [J. Algebra 211, No. 2, 599--624 (1999; Zbl 0924.13012)]). Various studies have been done on the regularity of a closely related ideal, the so called \textit{edge ideal} \(I(G)\), which is the ideal generated by the edges of \(G\). In [Banach Cent. Publ. 26, 57--70 (1990; Zbl 0741.13006)], \textit{R. Fröberg} completely characterized the case where \(I(G)\) has minimum possible regularity, the case where it has linear minimal free resolution. In [Math. Scand. 95, No. 1, 23--32 (2004; Zbl 1091.13013)], \textit{J. Herzog} et al. proved that if an edge ideal has linear resolution so do its powers. A graph \(G\) is \textit{claw free} if it contains no 4 vertices on which the induced graph is a star, i.e. a connected graph where all vertices but one have exactly one neighbor, which is common to all of them. Also, \(G\) is \textit{gap free} if and only if \(G^c\) contains no induced \(C_4\), where \(G^c\) is the \textit{complement} of the graph \(G\). \textit{E. Nevo} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 118, No. 2, 491--501 (2011; Zbl 1232.05092)] studied the ``first'' case where \(I(G)\) may not have a linear resolution. He proved that if \(G\) is both gap free and claw free then \(I(G)\) has regularity less than or equal to 3 and \(I(G)^2\) has linear resolution. Motivated by the above mentioned works on the edge ideal the author prove some results of the similar flavor in the case of the path ideals. He prove that if If \(I_3\neq 0\) and \(\mathrm{reg}(I) =r\) then \(\mathrm{reg}(I_3)\leq \max \{r, 3\}\), where \(\mathrm{reg}(I)\) is the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity of \(I\). Also, he show that if \(I_4\neq 0\) and \(I\) has a minimal free resolution which is linear up to step \(p\geq 2\) then so does \(I_4\). Finally, in the last section author prove the following theorem: Theorem 1.1. If \(G\) is gap free and claw free and \(I_t\neq 0\) then \(I_t\) has linear minimal free resolution for \(t=3, 4, 5, 6\). If \(G\) is gap free, claw free and whiskered \(K_4\) free and \(I_t\neq0\) then \(I_t\) has linear minimal free resolution for all \(t\geq3\).