The Gorenstein colength of an Artinian local ring (Q958630)

Let \(R\) be an Artinian local ring. Since it is complete, \(R\) is a homomorphic image of a Gorenstein Artinian local ring \(S\). The Gorenstein colength \(g(R)\) of \(R\) is the minimum of the difference between the length of such \(S\) and one of \(R\). Hence \(g(R) = 0\) if and only if \(R\) is Gorenstein. \textit{W. Teter} [Invent. Math. 23, 153--162 (1974; Zbl 0276.13018)], and Huneke-Vraciu [\textit{A. Vraciu} Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 38, No. 2, 201--208 (2006; Zbl 1108.13003)] gave characterizations of \(R\) such that \(g(R) \leq 1\). In the present paper, the author gives a characterization of an Artinian local ring \(R\) such that \(g(R) \leq 2\).