Ideals generated by principal minors

Abstract: A minor is principal means it is defined by the same row and column indices. Let

X

be a square generic matrix,

K [X]

the polynomial ring in entries of

X

, over an algebraically closed field,

K

. For fixed

t l e q n

, let

m a t h f r a k P_{t}

denote the ideal generated by the size

t

principal minors of

X

. When

t = 2

the resulting quotient ring

K [X] / m a t h f r a k P_{2}

is a normal complete intersection domain. When

t > 2

we break the problem into cases depending on a fixed rank,

r

, of

X

. We show when

r = n

for any

t

, the respective images of

m a t h f r a k P_{t}

and

m a t h f r a k P_{n - t}

in the localized polynomial ring, where we invert

d e t X

, are isomorphic. From that we show the algebraic set given by

m a t h f r a k P_{n - 1}

has a codimension

n

component, plus a codimension 4 component defined by the determinantal ideal (which is given by all the submaximal minors of

X

). When

n = 4

the two components are linked, and we prove some consequences.

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