Descent Invariant and the<i>S</i>_nCondition (Q3838331)

Let \((A,m)\) be a \(d\)-dimensional Cohen-Macaulay local domain with a Bertini chain, that is there exists a chain of proper inclusions of prime ideals \((0)\subset p_1\subset\cdots\subset p_d=m\) such that each \(A/p_i\) is Cohen-Macaulay. Let \(N\) be an \(A\)-module and \(\delta(N)\) the greatest integer \(s\) such that for every \(p\in\text{Spec} A\) of height \(\leq s\) such that \(A/p\) is Cohen-Macaulay, \(N/pN\) is a torsion-free \(A/p\)-module. If \(N\) is finitely generated of finite projective dimension and satisfies \(S_n\) then \(\delta (N)\geq n-1\). This extends a previous result by the authors [\textit{A. Marcelo} and \textit{J. Muñoz Masqué}, J. Algebra 189, No. 2, 273-293 (1997; Zbl 0878.13005)]. If \(N\) is finite, torsion-free and of finite projective dimension then depth \(N\geq\delta (N)+1\).