The v-numbers of Stanley-Reisner ideals from the viewpoint of Alexander dual complexes (Q6924752)

Let \(S = k[x_1,\ldots,x_n]\) denote the polynomial ring over the field \(k\) with \(\deg x_i = 1, i = 1,\ldots,n\). Let \(I \subset S\) be a homogeneous polynomial and \(P \in \operatorname{Ass} R/I\). Then the \(v\)-number \(v_P(I)\) of \(I\) with respect to \(P\) is defined by \(v_P(I) = \min \{ \deg f | I:_S f = P\}\) and \(v(I) = \min \{v_P(I) | P \in \operatorname{Ass} S/I\}\). In recent research the \(v\)-numbers play a significant rôle. In the present paper the authors study the \(v\)-numbers of Stanley-Reisner rings in terms of its Alexander dual complex. The main results are: (1) The \(v\)-number of a cover ideal is just two less than the initial degree of its syzygy module. It provides a useful formula for cover ideals of finite simple graphs. (2) The authors prove some relation between the \(v\)-number of the Stanley-Reisner ideal and the Serre-depth of the quotient ring of the second symbolic power of the Stanley-Reisner ideal of its Alexander dual. (3) The \(v\)-number of the Stanley-Reisner ideal of a 2-pure simplicial complex is equal to the dimension of its Stanley-Reisner ring. -- As a further application it is shown that the \(v\)-number of the edge ideal of a very well-covered graph or a multi-whisker graph is bounded above by the regularity of its quotient ring.