Robust toric ideals (Q480658)

Let \( S:=K[x_1,\dots,x_n]\) be a polynomial ring over a field \(K\). An ideal \(I\subset S\) is robust if its universal Gröbner basis is a minimal set of generators, that is it is a Gröbner basis for all possible term orders. Robustness is a very strong condition and there are few examples of robust ideals, for example the ideal of maximal minors of a generic matrix of variables is robust. Lawrence ideals are also known to be robust. The main result in this paper is the following: Let \(F\) be a set of irreducible homogeneous binomials that minimally generate an ideal (non degenerate in the sense that \(F\) cant be partitioned into disjoint sets of polynomials in distinct variables). If \(F\) consists of binomials of degree two then the following conditions are equivalent: \(\bullet\) The ideal generated by \(F\) is robust, \(\bullet\) \(|F|=1\) or \(F\) consists of the \(2\times 2\) minors of a generic \(2\times n\) matrix. Furthermore, in higher degree, it is not true that the robustness of \((F)\) implies that it is a determinantal or a Lawrence ideal.