When $I$ is the radical homogeneous ideal of a finite set of points in projective $N$-space, ${\bf P}^N$, over a field $K$, it has been conjectured that $I^{(rN-N+1)}$ should be contained in $I^r$ for all $r\geq 1$. Recent counterexamples show that this can fail when N=r=2. We study properties of the resulting ideals. We also show that failures occur for infinitely many $r$ in every characteristic $p>2$ when N=2, and we find additional positive characteristic failures when $N>2$.
We show that in general the third symbolic power of a radical ideal of points in the complex projective plane is not contained in the second usual power of that ideal. This answers in negative a question asked by Huneke and generalized by Harbourne.
Let $φ: S = k[y_0,..., y_n] \to R = k[y_0,...,y_n]$ be given by $y_i \to f_i$ where $f_0,...,f_n$ is an $R$-regular sequence of homogeneous elements of the same degree. A recent paper shows for ideals, $I_Δ\subseteq S$, of matroids, $Δ$, that $I_Δ^{(m)} \subseteq I^r$ if and only if $φ_*(I_Δ)^{(m)} \subseteq φ_*(I_Δ)^r$ where $φ_*(I_Δ)$ is the ideal generated in $R$ by $φ(I_Δ)$. We prove this result for saturated homogeneous ideals $I$ of configurations of points in $\mathbb{P}^n$ and use it to obtain many new counterexamples to $I^{(rn - n + 1)} \subseteq I^r$ from previously known counterexa…
We show that the Conjecture of Harbourne and Huneke, $I^{(Nr-(N-1))} \subset M^{(r-1)(N-1)}I^{r}$ holds for ideals of generic (simple) points in $\PP^3$. As a result, for such ideals we prove the following bounds, which can be recognized as generalizations of Chudnovsky bounds: $α(I^{(3m-k)}) \geq mα(I)+2m-k$, for any $m \geq 1$ and $k=0,1,2$. Moreover, we obtain lower bounds for the Waldshmidt constant for such ideals.
Given an ideal $I$, the containment problem is concerned about finding the values $m$ and $n$ such that the $m$-th symbolic power of $I$ is contained in its $n$-th ordinary power. In this paper we consider this problem focusing on two classes of ideals of fat points. In particular we study the ideal of $n$ points on a line in $\mathbb{P}^N$ and the ideal of three nonlinear points in $\mathbb{P}^N$ for $N\geq2$.
We study sets of triple points of Böröczky's arrangements of lines in the context of the containment problem proposed by Harbourne and Huneke. We show that in the class of those arrangements, the smallest counterexample to the containment $I^{(3)} \subseteq I^2$ is obtained when the number of lines is equal to 12.
We establish a criterion for the (failure of) the containment $I^{(m)}\subset I^r$ for 3-generated ideals $I$ defining reduced sets of points in $\mathbb{P}^2$. Our criterion arises from studying the minimal free resolutions of the powers of $I$, specifically the minimal free resolutions for $I^m$ and $I^r$. We apply this criterion to two point configurations that have recently arisen as counterexamples to a question of B. Harbourne and C. Huneke: the Fermat configuration and the Klein configuration.
The containment problem for symbolic and ordinary powers of ideals asks for what values of $a$ and $b$ we have $I^{(a)} \subseteq I^b$. Over a regular ring, a result by Ein-Lazarsfeld-Smith, Hochster-Huneke, and Ma-Schwede partially answers this question, but the containments it provides are not always best possible. In particular, a tighter containment conjectured by Harbourne has been shown to hold for interesting classes of ideals - although it does not hold in general. In this paper, we develop a Fedder (respectively, Glassbrenner) type criterion for $F$-purity (respectively, strong $F$-re…
The purpose of this note is to provide an overview of the containment problem for symbolic and ordinary powers of homogeneous ideals, related conjectures and examples. We focus here on ideals with zero dimensional support. This is an area of ongoing active research. We conclude the note with a list of potential promising paths of further research.
Given a symbolic power of a homogeneous ideal in a polynomial ring, we study the problem of determining which powers of the ideal contain it. For ideals defining 0-dimensional subschemes of projective space, as an immediate corollary of our previous paper (arXiv:0706.3707) we give a complete solution in terms of the least degrees of nonzero elements of the symbolic powers, under the condition that the ideal is generated in a single degree and such that that degree is the regularity of the ideal (see Corollary 1.2). Using geometric methods, we also give complete solutions for ideals of points i…
The symbolic powers $I^{(n)}$ of a radical ideal $I$ in a polynomial ring consist of the functions that vanish up to order $n$ in the variety defined by $I$. These do not necessarily coincide with the ordinary algebraic powers $I^n$, but it is natural to compare the two notions. The containment problem consists of determining the values of $n$ and $m$ for which $I^{(n)} \subseteq I^m$ holds. When $I$ is an ideal of height $2$ in a regular ring, $I^{(3)} \subseteq I^2$ may fail, but we show that this containment does hold for the defining ideal of the space monomial curve $(t^a, t^b, t^c)$. Mor…
The purpose of this note is to study containment relations and asymptotic invariants for ideals of fixed codimension skeletons (simplicial ideals) determined by arrangements of $n + 1$ general hyperplanes in the $n-$dimensional projective space over an arbitrary field.
Given an ideal $I$ in a Noetherian ring, one can ask the containment question: for which $m$ and $r$ is the symbolic power $I^{(m)}$ contained in the ordinary power $I^r$? C. Bocci and B. Harbourne study the containment question in a geometric setting, where the ideal $I$ is in a polynomial ring over a field. Like them, we will consider special geometric constructs. In particular, we obtain a complete solution in two extreme cases of ideals of points on a pair of lines in $\mathbb{P}^2$; in one case, the number of points on each line is the same, while in the other all the points but one are o…
The purpose of this note is to show a new series of examples of homogeneous ideals $I$ in ${\mathbb K}[x,y,z,w]$ for which the containment $I^{(3)}\subset I^2$ fails. These ideals are supported on certain arrangements of lines in ${\mathbb P}^3$, which resemble Fermat configurations of points in ${\mathbb P}^2$, see \cite{NagSec16}. All examples exhibiting the failure of the containment $I^{(3)}\subseteq I^2$ constructed so far have been supported on points or cones over configurations of points. Apart of providing new counterexamples, these ideals seem quite interesting on their own.
Given a homogeneous ideal $I \subseteq k[x_0,\dots,x_n]$, the Containment problem studies the relation between symbolic and regular powers of $I$, that is, it asks for which pair $m, r \in \mathbb{N}$, $I^{(m)} \subseteq I^r$ holds. In the last years, several conjectures have been posed on this problem, creating an active area of current interests and ongoing investigations. In this paper, we investigated the Stable Harbourne Conjecture and the Stable Harbourne -- Huneke Conjecture and we show that they hold for the defining ideal of a Complement of a Steiner configuration of points in $\mathb…
We construct a 3-dimensional complete intersection toric variety on which the subadditivity formula doesn't hold, answering negatively a question by Takagi and Watanabe. A combinatorial proof of the subadditivity formula on 2-dimensional normal toric varieties is also provided.
We present an algorithm to decide whether a given ideal in the polynomial ring contains a monomial without using Gröbner bases, factorization or sub-resultant computations.
In this paper, the containment problem for the defining ideal of a special type of zero dimensional subschemes of $\mathbb{P}^2$, so called quasi star configurations, is investigated. Some sharp bounds for the resurgence of these types of ideals are given. As an application of this result, for every real number $0 < \varepsilon < \frac{1}{2}$, we construct an infinite family of homogeneous radical ideals of points in $\mathbb{K}[\mathbb{P}^2]$ such that their resurgences lie in the interval $[2- \varepsilon ,2)$. Moreover, the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity of all ordinary powers of defining i…
The purpose of this note is to find an elemenary explanation of a surprising result of Ein--Lazarsfeld--Smith \cite{ELS} and Hochster--Huneke \cite{HH} on the containment between symbolic and ordinary powers of ideals in simple cases. This line of research has been very active ever since, see for instance \cites{BC,HaH,DST} and the references therein, by now the literature on this topic is quite extensive. By `elementary' we refer to arguments that among others do not make use of resolution of singularities and multiplier ideals nor tight closure methods. Let us quickly recall the statement \c…
Guided by evidence coming from a few key examples and attempting to unify previous work of Chudnovsky, Esnault-Viehweg, Eisenbud-Mazur, Ein-Lazarsfeld-Smith, Hochster-Huneke and Bocci-Harbourne, Harbourne and Huneke recently formulated a series of conjectures that relate symbolic and regular powers of ideals of fat points in ${\bf P}^N$. In this paper we propose another conjecture along the same lines (Conjecture 3.9), and we verify it and the conjectures of Harbourne and Huneke for a variety of configurations of points.
This paper provides insights into the role of symmetry in studying polynomial functions vanishing to high order on an algebraic variety. The varieties we study are singular loci of hyperplane arrangements in projective space, with emphasis on arrangements arising from complex reflection groups. We provide minimal sets of equations for the radical ideals defining these singular loci and study containments between the ordinary and symbolic powers of these ideals.
We develop tools to study the problem of containment of symbolic powers $I^{(m)}$ in powers $I^r$ for a homogeneous ideal $I$ in a polynomial ring $k[{\bf P}^N]$ in $N+1$ variables over an algebraically closed field $k$. We obtain results on the structure of the set of pairs $(r,m)$ such that $I^{(m)}\subseteq I^r$. As corollaries, we show that $I^2$ contains $I^{(3)}$ whenever $S$ is a finite generic set of points in ${\bf P}^2$ (thereby giving a partial answer to a question of Huneke), and we show that the containment theorems of Ein-Lazarsfeld-Smith and Hochster-Huneke are optimal for every…
In the paper we prove the containment $I^{(nm)}\subset M^{(n-1)m}I^m$, for a radical ideal $I$ of $s$ general points in $\mathbb{P}^n$, where $s\geq 2^n$. As a corollary we get that the Chudnovsky Conjecture holds for a very general set of at least $2^n$ points in $\mathbb{P}^n$.
The purpose of this note is twofold. We present first a vanishing theorem for families of linear series with base ideal being a fat points ideal. We apply then this result in order to give a partial proof of a conjecture raised by Bocci, Harbourne and Huneke concerning containment relations between ordinary and symbolic powers of planar point ideals.
In algebraic geometry, Bertini theorems are an extremely important tool. A generalization of the classical theorem to multiplier ideals show that multiplier ideals restrict to a general hyperplane section. In characteristic $p > 0$, the test ideal can be seen to be the characteristic $p > 0$ analog of the multiplier ideal. However, in this paper it is shown that the same type of Bertini type theorem does not hold for test ideals.
Since Dumnicki, Szemberg and Tutaj-Gasińska gave in 2013 in [9] the first example of a set of points in the complex projective plane such that for its homogeneous ideal I the containment of the third symbolic power in the second ordinary power fails, there has been considerable interest in searching for further examples with this property and investigating into the nature of such examples. Many examples, defined over various fields, have been found but so far there has been essentially just one example found of 19 points defined over the rationals, see [16, Theorem A, Problem 1]. In [12, Probl…
In this note we consider two configurations of twelve lines with nineteen triple points (i.e., points where three lines meet). Both of them have the same combinatorial features. In both configurations nine of twelve lines have five triple points and one double point, and the remaining three lines have four triple points and three double points. Taking the ideal of the triple points of these configurations we discover that, quite surprisingly, for one of the configurations the containment $I^{(3)} \subset I^2$ holds, while for the other it does not. Hence for ideals of points defined by configu…
In this note we consider two simplicial arrangements of lines and ideals $I$ of intersection points of these lines. There are $127$ intersection points in both cases and the numbers $t_i$ of points lying on exactly $i$ configuration lines (points of multiplicity $i$) coincide. We show that in one of these examples the containment $I^{(3)} \subseteq I^2$ holds, whereas it fails in the other. We also show that the containment fails for a subarrrangement of $21$ lines. The interest in the containment relation between $I^{(3)}$ and $I^2$ for ideals of points in $¶^2$ is motivated by a question pos…
We introduce the class of sparse symmetric shifted monomial ideals. These ideals have linear quotients and their Betti numbers are computed. Using this, we prove that the symbolic powers of the generalized star configuration ideal are sequentially Cohen--Macaulay under some mild genericness assumption. With respect to these symbolic powers, we also consider the Harbourne--Huneke containment problem and establish the Demailly-like bound.
Fermat ideals define planar point configurations that are closely related to the intersection locus of the members of a specific pencil of curves. These ideals have gained recent popularity as counterexamples to some proposed containments between symbolic and ordinary powers. We give a systematic treatment of the family of Fermat ideals, describing explicitly the minimal generators and the minimal free resolutions of all their ordinary powers as well as many symbolic powers. We use these to study the ordinary and the symbolic Rees algebra of Fermat ideals. Specifically, we show that the symbol…
When does a Noetherian commutative ring $R$ have uniform symbolic topologies on primes--read, when does there exist an integer $D>0$ such that the symbolic power $P^{(Dr)} \subseteq P^r$ for all prime ideals $P \subseteq R$ and all $r >0$? Groundbreaking work of Ein-Lazarsfeld-Smith, as extended by Hochster and Huneke, and by Ma and Schwede in turn, provides a beautiful answer in the setting of finite-dimensional excellent regular rings. It is natural to then sleuth for analogues where the ring $R$ is non-regular, or where the above ideal containments can be improved using a linear function wh…
Over an arbitrary field $\mathbb{F}$, Harbourne conjectured that $$I^{(N (r-1)+1)} \subseteq I^r$$ for all $r>0$ and all homogeneous ideals $I$ in $S = \mathbb{F} [\mathbb{P}^N] = \mathbb{F} [x_0, \ldots, x_N]$. The conjecture has been disproven for select values of $N \ge 2$: first by Dumnicki, Szemberg, and Tutaj-Gasińska in characteristic zero, and then by Harbourne and Seceleanu in odd positive characteristic. However, the ideal containments above do hold when, for instance, $I$ is a monomial ideal in $S$. As a sequel to (arXiv:1510.02993), we present criteria for containments of type $I^{…
Gabrielov's famous example for the failure of analytic Artin approximation in the presence of nested subring conditions is shown to be due to a growth phenomenon in standard basis computations for echelons, a generalization of the concept of ideals in power series rings.
Let $k$ be a field of characteristic $p>0$. We discuss the automorphisms of the polynomial ring $k[x_1,\ldots ,x_n]$ of order $p$, or equivalently the ${\bf Z}/p{\bf Z}$-actions on the affine space ${\bf A}_k^n$. When $n=2$, such an automorphism is know to be a conjugate of an automorphism fixing a variable. It is an open question whether the same holds when $n\ge 3$. In this paper, (1) we give the first counterexample to this question when $n=3$. In fact, we show that every ${\bf G}_a$-action on ${\bf A}_k^3$ of rank three yields counterexamples for $n=3$. We give a family of counterexamples …
Symbolic powers of ideals have attracted interest in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry for many years, with a notable recent focus on containment relations between symbolic powers and ordinary powers. Several invariants have been introduced and studied in the latter context, including the resurgence and asymptotic resurgence. There have been exciting new developments in this area recently. It had been expected for several years that $I^{Nr-N+1}\subseteq I^r$ should hold for the ideal $I$ of any finite set of points in ${\bf P}^N$ for all $r>0$, but in the last year various counterexam…
Finite generation of the symbolic Rees ring of a space monomial prime ideal of a 3-dimensional weighted polynomial ring is a very interesting problem. Negative curves play important roles in finite generation of these rings. We are interested in the structure of the negative curve. We shall prove that negative curves are rational in many cases. We also see that the Cox ring of the blow-up of a toric variety at the point (1,1,...,1) coincides with the extended symbolic Rees ring of an ideal of a polynomial ring. For example, Roberts' second counterexample to Cowsik's question (and Hilbert's 14t…
Can an ideal I in a polynomial ring k[x] over a field be moved by a change of coordinates into a position where it is generated by binomials $x^a - cx^b$ with c in k, or by unital binomials (i.e., with c = 0 or 1)? Can a variety be moved into a position where it is toric? By fibering the G-translates of I over an algebraic group G acting on affine space, these problems are special cases of questions about a family F of ideals over an arbitrary base B. The main results in this general setting are algorithms to find the locus of points in B over which the fiber of F - is contained in the fiber o…
The Klein and Wiman configurations are highly symmetric configurations of lines in the projective plane arising from complex reflection groups. One noteworthy property of these configurations is that all the singularities of the configuration have multiplicity at least three. In this paper we study the surface X obtained by blowing up the projective plane in the singular points of one of these line configurations. We study invariant curves on X in detail, with a particular emphasis on curves of negative self-intersection. We use the representation theory of the stabilizers of the singular poin…
