On the smoothness of lexicographic points on Hilbert schemes

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Publication:2229985



Abstract: We study the geometry of standard graded Hilbert schemes of polynomial rings and exterior algebras. Our investigation is motivated by a famous theorem of Reeves and Stillman for the Grothendieck Hilbert scheme, which states that the lexicographic point is smooth. By contrast, we show that, in standard graded Hilbert schemes of polynomial rings and exterior algebras, the lexicographic point can be singular, and it can lie in multiple irreducible components. We answer questions of Peeva-Stillman and of Maclagan-Smith.


Let \(\text{Hilb}^{p(t)} (\mathbb P^n)\) be the Grothendieck Hilbert scheme that parametrizes closed subschemes \(X \subset \mathbb P^n\) with Hilbert polynomial \(p(t)\). \textit{A. Reeves} and \textit{M. Stillman} showed that the point in \(\text{Hilb}^{p(t)} (\mathbb P^n)\) corresponding to the lexicographic ideal is smooth [J. Algebr. Geom. 6, 235--246 (1997; Zbl 0924.14004)] and determines a canonical \textit{lexicographic component} of \(\text{Hilb}^{p(t)} (\mathbb P^n)\). \textit{I. Peeva} and \textit{M. Stillman} gave a version of this theorem for toric Hilbert schemes [Duke Math. J. 111, 419--449 (2002; Zbl 1067.14005)]. With \textit{M. Haiman} and \textit{B. Sturmfels} extending the Grothendieck Hilbert schemes to standard graded Hilbert schemes \(\mathcal H^{\mathfrak h} (R)\) parametrizing homogeneous ideals \(I\) with fixed Hilbert function \(\mathfrak h\) in a graded ring \(R\) [J. Algebr. Geom. 13, 725--769 (2004; Zbl 1072.14007)] it becomes natural to ask what the lexicographic points look like in that setting. \textit{D. Maclagan} and \textit{G. G. Smith} gave an analog to the Reeves-Stillman for standard multigraded Hilbert schemes in two variables [Adv. Math. 223, 1608--1631 (2010; Zbl 1191.14007)]. The authors give examples showing that the lexicographic point does not behave so nicely in \(\mathcal H^{\mathfrak h} (R)\) for more variables. They show that for \(S = k[x,y,z]\) and \(\mathfrak h = (1,3,4,4,3,3,3, \dots)\), the Hilbert scheme \(\mathcal H^{\mathfrak h} (S)\) is the union of two irreducible components of dimension \(8\) containing the lexicographic point in their intersection, so the lexicographic point is singular and does not correspond to a canonical component. They also give an example where the lexicographic point is not even Cohen-Macaulay. They also show for the exterior algebra \(E = \bigwedge k^5\) and \(\mathfrak h = (1,5,7,2)\) that the standard graded Hilbert scheme \(\mathcal H^{\mathfrak h} (E)\) is the union of two irreducible components of dimensions \(14\) and \(15\) which contain the lexicographic point in their intersection.





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