On the degrees of relations on \(x_1^{d_1}, \dots, x_n^{d_n},(x_1 + \dots + x_n)^{d_{n + 1}}\) in positive characteristic (Q479787)

The main goal of this article is to determine the minimal degree \(\mathcal{E}_p(d_1,\dots,d_{n+1})\) of a non-Koszul relation on \(x_1^{d_1},\dots,x_n^{d_n},(x_1+\cdots+x_n)^{d_{n+1}}\) in \(k[x_1,\dots,x_n]\), where \(k\) is a field of characteristic \(p \geq 0\). The answer is known in characteristic zero [\textit{L. Reid} et al., Can. Math. Bull. 34, No. 4, 525--535 (1991; Zbl 0757.13005)]; namely, when none of the elements \(x_1^{d_1},\dots,x_n^{d_n},(x_1+\cdots+x_n)^{d_{n+1}}\) is in the ideal generated by the others, the minimal degree of a non-Koszul relation is \(\mathcal{E}_0(d_1,\dots,d_{n+1}) = \left\lceil \frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n+1} d_i - n + 1}{2}\right\rceil\). Although, smaller degrees are possible in positive characteristic. In the main theorem, the author exhibits an explicit formula for \(\mathcal{E}_p(d_1,\dots,d_{n+1})\), provided some conditions on the integers \(d_1,\dots,d_{n+1}\) are satisfied. For instance, the largest power of \(p\) that is less than or equal to each \(d_i\) must be the same. As an application, the author gives an explicit formula for the diagonal \(F\)-threshold \(c^{\mathfrak{m}}(\mathfrak{m})\) of a diagonal hypersurface \(k[x_1,\dots,x_{n+1}]/(x_1^a+\cdots + x_{n+1}^a)\), with \(k\) a field of characteristic \(p>0\) and \(a\) an integer not divisible by \(p\). Another application is in the direction of determining whether the Artinian graded ring \(A=k[x_1,\dots,x_{n+1}]/(x_1^{d_1},\dots,x_{n+1}^{d_{n+1}})\) has the Weak Lefschetz Property (WLP). It is known that all monomial complete intersections have the WLP in characteristic zero [\textit{R. P. Stanley}, SIAM J. Algebraic Discrete Methods 1, 168--184 (1980; Zbl 0502.05004)] and [\textit{J. Watanabe}, Adv. Stud. Pure Math. 11, 303--312 (1987; Zbl 0648.13010)], but this is no longer true, in general, in positive characteristic \(p>0\). Among other things, the author gives a complete characterization for \(n=3\) of those values of \(d_1,\dots,d_{n+1}\) that satisfy the main theorem and for which \(A\) has the WLP.