Reduction numbers of equimultiple ideals (Q5917807)

Let \((A,{\mathfrak m})\) be a local ring and \(I\) an ideal of \(A\). An ideal \(J\subseteq I\) is called a reduction of \(I\) if \(I^{n+1}= I^nJ\) for some \(n>0\), and a minimal reduction if it is generated by the smallest possible number of elements which is just the analytic spread \(\ell(I):= \dim\bigoplus_{n\geq 0}I^n/{\mathfrak m}I^n\). The reduction number \(r_J(I)\) of \(I\) with respect to \(J\) is the least nonnegative integer \(n\) satisfying \(I^{n+1}= I^nJ\). Moreover the minimum, say, \(r(I)\) of all \(r_J(I)\), where \(J\) is a minimal reduction of \(I\), is called the reduction number of \(I\). The aim of the paper is to give bounds for \(r(I)\). This is first done for \({\mathfrak m}\)-primary ideals where the author derives bounds in terms of \(\dim A\), the multiplicity \(e(A)\) and the order \(o(I):= \min\{n\mid {\mathfrak m}^n\subseteq I\}\). For arbitrary equimultiple ideals there is a bound under additional assumptions which are similar to the normal Cohen-Macaulayness of \(A\) along \(I\). Generalizing a result of \textit{M. Herrmann}, \textit{S. Ikeda} and \textit{U. Orbanz} [``Equimultiplicity and blowing up. An algebraic study'' (1988; Zbl 0649.13011)] the author also gives necessary and sufficient conditions for the Cohen-Macaulayness of the Rees algebra \(R[It]\) in terms of \(r(I)\) and the vanishing of certain graded pieces of local cohomology groups of the associated graded ring.