On relations on minors of generic symmetric matrices (Q912929)

Let R be a commutative ring with identity and let \(S=R[X]\) denote the polynomial ring over R in the \(n(n+1)/2\) variables \(X_{ij}\) where \(1\leq i\leq j\leq n\). Let \((X_{ij})\) denote the generic \(n\times n\) symmetric matrix determined by these variables under the further assumption that \(X_{ij}=X_{ji}\) for all i,j and, for each p, \(1\leq p\leq n\), let \(J_ p\) be the ideal of S generated by all the p-minors of \((X_{ij})\). This paper contributes to the study of the factor rings \(S/J_ p\). These arise as rings of invariants of certain group actions in algebraic geometry and it has been shown by \textit{R. E. Kutz} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 194, 115-129 (1974; Zbl 0288.13004)] that when R is Cohen-Macaulay then \(S/J_ p\) is also Cohen-Macaulay with \(depth(J_ p)=proj(\dim_ S(S/J_ p))=(n-p+1)(n-p+2)/2\). In the case where R contains the field of rationals, \textit{T. Józefiak}, \textit{P. Pragacz} and \textit{J. Weyman} [Astérisque 87-88, 109-189 (1981; Zbl 0488.14012)] have constructed a minimal free resolution of \(S/J_ p\) for any n and p. However such resolutions have not been obtained in general for an arbitrary ring R. As partial results for arbitrary R, a minimal free resolution for \(S/J_ p\) can be constructed for \(p=1\) and \(p=n\) using the Koszul complex and have been constructed when \(p=n-1\) by \textit{S. Goto} and \textit{S. Tachibana} [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 17, 51-54 (1977; Zbl 0375.13004)] and \textit{T. Józefiak} [Comment. Math. Helv. 53, 595-607 (1978; Zbl 0398.13009)]. The author proves the existence of a minimal free resolution in the case when \(p=n-2\) by first showing that the relation module of minors of \((X_{ij})\) is generated by those relations of degree 0 and 1 and then giving an explicit description of these relations. The methods involved are similar to those used by the author in his companion paper [J. Algebra 124, No.2, 414-436 (1989)].