On the depth of invariant rings of infinite groups (Q837047)

Let \(K\) be an algebraically closed field, \(G\) be a linear algebraic group over \(K\), and \(V\) be a finite-dimensional \(K\)-vector space which is s rational \(G\)-module. \textit{M. Hochster} and \textit{J. L. Roberts} proved that the ring of invariants \(K[V]^G\) is Cohen-Macaulay if \(G\) is linear reductive [Adv. Math. 13, 115--175 (1974; Zbl 0289.14010)]. \textit{M.-J. Bertin} showed that, if \(\mathrm{char} K=2\), there is a \(4\)-dimensional vector space \(V\) with a \(C_4\)-action such that \(K[V]^{C_4}\) is factorial, but is not Cohen-Macaulay [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. A 264, 653--656 (1967; Zbl 0147.29503)]. There are many examples of non-Cohen-Macaulay rings of invariants hereafter. Let \(R\) be a finitely generated graded commutative \(K\)-algebra, define \(\mathrm{cmdef} \, R\), the Cohen-Macaulay defect of \(R\), by \(\mathrm{cmdef} \, R= \dim R -\mathrm{depth} R\). For results of \(\mathrm{cmdef} \, K[V]^G\) when \(G\) is a finite group, see, for examples, the references contained in this paper under review. The goal of this paper is to study \(\mathrm{cmdef} \, K[V]^G\) when \(\dim \, G \geq 1\). In this paper, it is shown that, if \(G\) is reductive, but not linear reductive, then there exists a faithful \(G\)-module \(V\) (which may be constructed explicitly) such that \(\mathrm{cmdef} \, K[V^{\oplus k}]^G \geq k-2\) for any positive integer \(k\). As a corollary, a reductive group \(G\) is linear reductive if and only if there is an integer \(b\) such that \(\mathrm{cmdef} \, K[V]^G \leq b\) for all rational \(G\)-modules \(V\).