On varieties of almost minimal degree in small codimension (Q855950)

Recall that a \textit{variety of minimal degree} is a non-degenerate, irreducible and reduced projective variety \(X\) (in this paper over an algebraically closed field) for which \(\deg X = \text{codim } X + 1\). Such varieties have been carefully studied, and in particular they are arithmetically Cohen-Macaulay (ACM) and have a linear minimal free resolution. Extending this, a \textit{variety of almost minimal degree} is one for which \(\deg X = \text{codim } X + 2\). It is easy to see that it is no longer true that such a variety is necessarily ACM: for instance, in \(\mathbb P^3\) consider a smooth rational quartic curve. This paper continues the study of these varieties, building on work of \textit{L. T. Hoa, J. Stückrad} and \textit{W. Vogel} [J.\ Pure Appl.\ Algebra 71, 203--231 (1991; Zbl 0749.14032)] and \textit{U. Nagel} [in: Syzygies and Hilbert functions. Lect. Notes Pure Appl. Math. 254, 209--232 (2007; Zbl 1184.14077)]. The authors consider the case of low codimension, with focus on the possible Betti diagrams that occur. In particular, for codimension \(\leq 4\), they give all possible Betti diagrams. The main technical tool used here is an earlier result of the authors', saying that apart from an exceptional special case, any non-arithmetically normal variety of almost minimal degree \(X\) in \(\mathbb P^r\) (which is not a cone) is contained as a divisor on a variety of minimal degree.