Regular sequences on squares of monomial ideals (Q6171833)

Let \(R\) be a polynomial ring over a field \(k\) and \(I\) a monomial ideal in \(R\). In [\textit{N. Terai} et al., J. Pure Appl. Algebra 218(6), 1117--1129 (2014; Zbl 1284.13030)] the authors asked for a criterion for \(\mathrm{depth}\,R/I^2>1\). This question is the main focus of the paper under review. Let \(f=b_0+b_1+\dots+b_t\), where \(b_i\) are variables in the polynomial ring. In each of the following, the authors give conditions on \(f\) such that: \begin{itemize} \item If \(I=I(G)\) is the edge ideal of a bipartite graph (resp.\ a graph with a unique odd cycle), then \(f\) is regular on \(R/I^r\) for all \(r\in\mathbb R\) (resp.\ for all \(r\leq r_0\), where \(r_0\) is certain number depending on the unique odd cycle and \(b_0\)). \item If \(t=1\), then \(f\) is regular on \(R/I^2\). Additionally, a condition for \(f_i=b_{i,0}+b_{i,1}\), \(1\leq i\leq s\), is given such that \(f_1,\ldots,f_s\) is a regular sequence on \(R/I^2\). \end{itemize} In the second part of the paper the authors consider linear sums \(f_i\), \(1\leq i\leq s\), of three variables. Given a term order \(>\), they find a sufficient condition such that \(f_1,\ldots,f_s\) is an \textit{initially regular sequence} on \(R/I^2\), i.e.\ such that \(f_i\) is a regular element on \(R/I_i\), where \(I_1=\mathrm{in}_{>}(I^2)\) and \(I_i=\mathrm{in}_{>}(I_{i-1},f_i)\) for \(i>1\). The existence of such a sequence implies \(\mathrm{depth}\,R/I^2\geq s\).