Divisorial linear algebra of normal semigroup rings (Q1811026)

In the paper under review, the authors investigate the minimal number of generators \(\mu\) and the depth of divisorial ideals over normal semigroup rings. Such ideals are defined by the inhomogeneous systems of linear inequalities associated with the support hyperplanes of the semigroup. The main result, based on combinatorial arguments, is that for each \(C\in \mathbb{Z}_+\) there exist, up to isomorphism, only finitely many divisorial ideals \(I\) such that \(\mu(I)\leq C\) (see theorem 5.1). It then follows by Serre's numerical Cohen-Macaulay criterion that there exist only finitely many divisor classes representing Cohen-Macaulay modules (see corollary 5.2). Moreover, the authors determine the minimal depth of all divisorial ideals and the behaviour of \(\mu\) and depth in `arithmetic progressions' in the divisor class group. The results of the paper are generalized to more general systems of linear inequalities whose homogeneous versions define the semigroup in a not necessarily irredundant way. The ideals arising this way can also be considered as defined by the nonnegative solutions of an inhomogeneous system of linear diophantine equations. In section 7 of the paper under review, a more ring-theoretic approach to the theorem on minimal number of generators of divisorial ideals is given; it turns out to be a special instance of a theorem on the growth of multigraded Hilbert functions (see theorem 7.2). We refer the reader to the paper, since the results have much more details than can be reproduced here.