F-rationality of Rees algebras (Q5957510)

Many authors have studied various properties of Rees algebras; this paper is the first systematic study of the F-rationality: Under what conditions on the ring \(R\) and on the ideal \(I\) does the F-rationality of \(R\) imply the F-rationality of the Rees algebra \(R(I)\), and vice versa? One of the techniques the authors employ is the Sancho de Salas sequence. As in several previous applications of such sequences, stronger conclusions can be reached when \(R\) is two-dimensional. In particular, if \(R\) is F-rational of dimension \(2\) and \(I\) is integrally closed, then \(R(I)\) is F-rational. The authors construct counterexamples in higher dimensions. They also prove that if \(R(I)\) is F-rational with \(a\)-invariant different from \(-1\), then \(R\) is F-rational. The main theorem of this paper ties all these results together in a more general way via the concept of tight integral closure of some ideals in \(R\). The authors also prove several results on the F-rationality of the extended Rees algebras.