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 counterexamples.
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 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.
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 $N>2$.
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 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.
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…
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…
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.
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…
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.
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…
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.
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…
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 $\mathbb{P}^n$.
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 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…
Let $R=\mathbf{C}[ξ_1,ξ_2,\ldots]$ be the infinite variable polynomial ring, equipped with the natural action of the infinite symmetric group $\mathfrak{S}$. We classify the $\mathfrak{S}$-primes of $R$, determine the containments among these ideals, and describe the equivariant spectrum of $R$. We emphasize that $\mathfrak{S}$-prime ideals need not be radical, which is a primary source of difficulty. Our results yield a classification of $\mathfrak{S}$-ideals of $R$ up to copotency. Our work is motivated by the interest and applications of $\mathfrak{S}$-ideals seen in recent years.
In the present note we study certain arrangements of codimension $2$ flats in projective spaces, we call them "Fermat arrangements". We describe algebraic properties of their defining ideals. In particular, we show that they provide counterexamples to an expected containment relation between ordinary and symbolic powers of homogeneous ideals.
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^{…
The resurgence and asymptotic resurgence of an ideal in a polynomial ring are two statistics which measure the relationship between its regular and symbolic powers. We address two aspects of resurgence which can be studied via asymptotic resurgence. First, we show that if an ideal has Noetherian symbolic Rees algebra then its resurgence is rational. Second, we derive two bounds on asymptotic resurgence given a single known containment between a symbolic and regular power. From these bounds we recover and extend criteria for the resurgence of an ideal to be strictly less than its big height rec…
Let A be a noetherian commutative ring, and let I be an ideal in A. We study questions of flatness and I-adic completeness for infinitely generated A-modules. This is done using the notions of decaying function and I-adically free A-module.
Let J be a strongly stable monomial ideal in S=K[x_1,...,x_n] and let Mf(J) be the family of all homogeneous ideals I in S such that the set of all terms outside J is a K-vector basis of the quotient S/I. We show that an ideal I belongs to Mf(J) if and only if it is generated by a special set of polynomials, the J-marked basis of I, that in some sense generalizes the notion of reduced Groebner basis and its constructive capabilities. Indeed, although not every J-marked basis is a Groebner basis with respect to some term order, a sort of normal form modulo I (with the ideal I in Mf(J)) can be c…
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…
Building upon ideas of Hironaka, Bierstone-Milman, Malgrange and others we generalize the inverse and implicit function theorem (in differential, analytic and algebraic setting) to sets of functions of larger multiplicities (or ideals). This allows one to describe singularities given by a finite set of generators or by ideals in a simpler form. In the special Cohen-Macaulay case we obtain a singular analog of the inverse function theorem. The singular implicit function theorem is closely related to a (proven here) extended version of the Weierstrass-Hironaka-Malgrange division and preparation …
Let $H$ be a finite-dimensional Hopf algebra. We study the behaviou r of primitive and maximal ideals in certain types of ring extensions determined by $H$. The main focus is on the class of faithfully flat Galois extensions, which includes includes smash and crossed products. It is shown how analogous results can be obtained for the larger class of extensions possessing a total integral, which includes extensions $A^H\subseteq A $ when $H$ is semisimple. We use Passman's "primitivity machine" to reduce the whole theory of Kr ull relations for prime ideals to the case of primitive ideals. The …
