Set-theoretic defining equations of the variety of principal minors of symmetric matrices (Q646478)

It is a classical problem to find relations among principal minors of a matrix of indeterminates. Principal minors of \(n \times n\) symmetric matrices define an algebraic variety \(Z_n\) which is invariant under the action of \((SL(2)^{\times n}) \ltimes S_n\). The span of the \((\mathrm{SL}(2)^{\times n}) \ltimes S_n\)-orbit of the \(2 \times 2 \times 2\) hyperdeterminant is called the hyperdeterminantal module by \textit{O. Holtz} and \textit{B. Sturmfels} [J. Algebra 316, No. 2, 634--648 (2007; Zbl 1130.15005)]. They also conjecture that the prime ideal of \(Z_n\) is generated in degree four by the hyperdeterminantal module for all \(n \geq 3\). The main result of the paper under review proves the set theoretic version of this conjecture. The author uses the fact that an algebraic variety \(X\) is invariant under the action of a linearly reductive group \(G\) if and only if its defining ideal \(I(X)\) is a \(G\)-module. Exploring and developing the necessary representation theoretic facts about more general \(G\)-modules the article not only solves the conjecture set theoretically but also shed some light on more general \(G\)-varieties.