Lengths of generalized fractions of modules having small polynomial type (Q4954262)

Let \(M\) be a finitely generated module over a Noetherian local ring \((A, \mathfrak{M})\) with \(\dim M = d\). Let \(\underline{x} = (x_1, \ldots, x_d)\) be a system of parameters of \(M\) and \(\underline{n} = (n_1, \ldots, n_d) \in \mathbb{N}^d\) a \(d\)-tuple of positive integers. This paper considers two functions dependent on \(\underline{n}\): the difference between lengths and multiplicities \[ I_M(\underline{n},\underline{x}) = \ell(M/(x_1^{n_1}, \ldots, x_d^{n_d})M) - n_1 \ldots n_d\cdot e(x_1, \ldots, x_d;M) \] and a similar function considered by \textit{R. Y. Sharp} and \textit{M. A. Hamieh} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 38, 323-336 (1985; Zbl 0578.13008)] in the context of generalized fractions. This second function, denoted \(J_M(\underline{n},\underline{x}) \) is given by \[ J_M(\underline{n},\underline{x}) = n_1 \ldots n_d\cdot e(x_1, \ldots, x_d;M) - \ell(M(1/(x_1^{n_1}, \ldots, x_d^{n_d},1))), \] where the latter module is the cyclic submodule of a module of generalized fractions considered by \textit{R. Y. Sharp} and \textit{H. Zakeri} [Mathematika 29, 32-41 (1982; Zbl 0497.13006)]. The known behaviour of the functions is very similar. Both detect Cohen-Macaulay modules and their behaviour on generalized Cohen-Macaulay modules is almost the same except when \(d \leq 2\). It is known that \(I_M(\underline{n},\underline{x})\) is not in general a polynomial of \(\underline{n}\), but that the least degree \(p(M)\) of all polynomials in \(\underline{n}\) bounding above \(I_M(\underline{n},\underline{x})\) is independent of the choice of \(\underline{x}\). In this paper the analogous result for \(J_M(\underline{n},\underline{x})\) is proved, yielding a new invariant \(pf(M)\) of \(M\). The main result of the paper gives some relationships between \(pf(M)\) and \(p(M)\), also linking them with other invariants of \(M\).