\(F\)-threshold functions: syzygy gap fractals and the two-variable homogeneous case (Q346557)

This paper answers a question of \textit{K. Schwede} [Computational Workshop on Frobenius Singularities and Invariants, held in Ann Arbor, MI (2012); \url{https://sites.google.com/site/computingfinvariantsworkshop/open-questions}] regarding denominators of \(F\)-pure thresholds and provides an algorithm for computing \(F\)-pure thresholds of homogeneous polynomials in two variables. The main results of the paper appear in Sections 7 and 8, with the first six sections building up the technical details needed for the proofs. An appendix contains the algorithm for computing \(F\)-pure thresholds, as well as a proof that the algorithm terminates and sample code demonstrating how to compute \(F\)-pure thresholds using code available in the PosChar package for Macaulay2. Theorems 7.7 and 8.2 answer a question of Schwede positively, indicating that if a homogeneous or quasi-homogeneous polynomial \(g_0 \in \mathbb{Z}[x_1,\ldots,x_r]\) vanishes at the origin, then for any sufficiently large prime \(p\) such that the \(F\)-pure threshold of \(g_0\) modulo \(p\) is not equal to the log canonical threshold of \(g_0\), \(p\) divides the lowest-terms denominator of the \(F\)-pure threshold of \(g_0\) modulo \(p\). Theorems 7.12 gives an explicit formula for the \(F\)-pure threshold of a homogeneous polynomial in two variables over a field, and is followed by the computation of an example. Theorem 8.12 restates a result of Hernandez, Nunez-Betancourt, Witt, and Zhang [\textit{D. J. Hernández} et al., Mich. Math. J. 65, No. 1, 57--87 (2016; Zbl 1342.13007)] regarding the \(F\)-pure threshold of a non-constant quasi-homogeneous square free polynomial, and gives a simpler proof of a special case using the methods developed in this paper. Sections 2 through 6 provide a detailed build-up to the main results, using results from previous work by Teixeira to define the syzygy gap fractal and adapt it to use in a definition of the \(F\)-threshold function (Definition 4.2). Section 4 contains a number of results and examples describing the behavior of the syzygy gap fractal, Section 5 information on the critical points of the syzygy gap fractal, and Section 6 a detailed discussion of a special case.