Monomial resolutions

Polynomial rings and ideals; rings of integer-valued polynomials (13F20) Combinatorial properties of polytopes and polyhedra (number of faces, shortest paths, etc.) (52B05) Simplicial sets and complexes in algebraic topology (55U10)

Review text

Let \(S=k[X_1, \dots, X_n]\) be a polynomial ring over a field \(k\) and \(M\) a monomial ideal in \(S\), minimally generated by \(r\) monomials \(m_1, \dots, m_r\). Finding a minimal free resolution of \(S/M\) over \(S\) (for arbitrary \(M)\) is still an open problem. \textit{D. Taylor} [``Ideals generated by monomials in an \(R\)-sequence, Ph. D. Thesis, Chicago (1960)] constructed a non-minimal free resolution (of length \(r)\) of \(S/M\) and \textit{G. Lyubeznik} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 51, No. 1/2, 193-195 (1988; Zbl 0652.13012)] showed that a certain subcomplex of Taylor's resolution still resolves \(S/M\). For an important class of monomial ideals, called (combinatorially) stable, the minimal free resolution has been described by \textit{S. Eliahou} and \textit{M. Kervaire} [J. Algebra 129, No. 1, 1-25 (1990; Zbl 0701.13006)]. In the present paper, the authors associate to \(M\) a simplicial complex \(\Delta_M\), with vertices \(m_1, \dots,m_r\), called the Scarf complex of \(M\) because it was first considered, in the context of mathematical economics, by \textit{H. Scarf} [``The computation of economic equilibria, Cowles Foundation Monograph 24 (1973; Zbl 0311.90009)]. To \(\Delta_M\) one associates a subcomplex \(F_{\Delta_M}\) of the Taylor resolution. The authors show that if the monomial ideal is generic (in the sense that no variable appears with the same non-zero exponent in two distinct minimal generators of \(M\)) then \(F_{\Delta_M}\) is a minimal free resolution of \(S/M\). For arbitrary \(M\), using a construction based on deformation of exponents, the authors produce, in the same manner, a non-minimal free resolution of \(S/M\), of length at most \(n\) (the number of variables). They show that, for generic \(M\), the Scarf complex \(\Delta_M\) appears naturally in the boundary of a certain polytope \(P_M\). As an application, they show that the Betti numbers of an arbitrary monomial ideal satisfy the upper bound theorem for convex polytopes.

Recommendations

Cited in

(38)

This page was built for publication: Monomial resolutions

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6483290)