Generalized Hilbert coefficients and Northcott's inequality (Q298031)

Let \((R,\mathfrak m, k)\) be a Noetherian local ring of dimension \(d\) with maximal ideal \(\mathfrak m\) and infinite residue field \(k\). For an ideal \(I\) of \(R\), the generalized Hilbert-Samuel \(H_I(n)\) function of an ideal \(I\) was defined \textit{H. Flenner, L. O'Carroll} and \textit{W. Vogel} [Joins and intersections. Monographs in Mathematics, Springer, Berlin (1999; Zbl 0939.14003)] using the 0-th local cohomology functor. \textit{C. Ciupercă} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 178, No. 1, 25--48 (2003; Zbl 1088.13501)] introduced the generalized (bivariate) Hilbert coefficients, and \textit{C. Polini} and \textit{Y. Xie} [Commun. Algebra 42, No. 6, 2411--2427 (2014; Zbl 1295.13008)] defined the generalized Hilbert-Samuel polynomial \(P_I(n)\) and the generalized Hilbert coefficients. Assuming that \(I\) has analytic spread \(\ell(I) = d\) and satisfies both the \(G_d\) condition and the weak Artin-Nagata property \(AN_{d-2}^-\), the author gives a formula relating the length \(\lambda(I^{n+1}/JI^n)\) to the difference \(P_I(n) - H_I(n)\), where \(J\) is a general minimal reduction of \(I\). She uses this to give formulas for the generalized Hilbert coefficients and she extends Northcott's inequality to non-\(\mathfrak m\)-primary ideals. She also studies the case where Northcott's inequality is an equality, obtaining nice consequences. This work extends work of Huckaba, Huneke and Ooishi to ideals that are not necessarily \(\mathfrak m\)-primary.