Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity and F-signature are numerical invariants of commutative rings in positive characteristic that measure severity of singularities: for a regular ring both invariants are equal to one and the converse holds under mild assumptions. A natural question is for what singular rings these invariants are closest to one. For Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity this question was first considered by the last two authors and attracted significant attention. In this paper, we study this question, i.e., an upper bound, for F-signature and revisit lower bounds on Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity.
We interpret Hilbert-Kunz theory of a graded ring of positive characteristic in terms of Frobenius asymptotic of cohomology of vector bundles on projective varieties. With this method we show that for almost all prime numbers there exist three-dimensional quartic hypersurface domains and modules of finite length with irrational Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity. From this we deduce that also the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of a local noetherian domain might be an irrational number.
We study Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of non-singular curves in positive characteristic. We analyse the relationship between the Frobenius semistability of the kernel sheaf associated with the curve and its ample line bundle, and the HK multiplicity. This leads to a lower bound, achieved iff the kernel sheaf is Frobenius semistable, and otherwise to formulas for the HK multiplicity in terms of parameters measuring the failure of Frobenius semistability. As a byproduct, an explicit example of a vector bundle on a curve is given whose $n$-th iterated Frobenius pullback is not semistable, while its …
Suppose that h in F[x,y,z], char F=2, defines a nodal cubic. In earlier papers we made a precise conjecture as to the Hilbert-Kunz functions attached to the powers of h. Assuming this conjecture we showed that a class of characteristic 2 hypersurfaces has algebraic but not necessarily rational Hilbert-Kunz multiplicities. We now show that if the conjecture holds, then transcendental multiplicities exist, and in particular that the number \sum\binom{2n}{n}^{2}/(65,536)^{n}, proved transcendental by Schneider, is a Q-linear combination of Hilbert-Kunz multiplicities of characteristic 2 hypersurf…
The paper investigates the behavior of Hilbert-Samuel and Hilbert-Kunz multiplicities in families of ideals. It is shown that Hilbert-Samuel multiplicity is upper semicontinuous almost generally and that Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is upper semicontinuous in families of finite type. Surprisingly, our machinery can be applied for families over Z and yields a partial solution to the question about characteristic zero Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity posed by Brenner, Li, and Miller. Another application is that for an affine ring the infimum in the definition of F-rational signature, an invariant defined …
We prove that, under certain assumptions, generalized Hilbert-Kunz multiplicities can be expressed as linear combinations of classical Hilbert-Kunz multiplicities.
The Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity and $F$-signature are important invariants for researchers in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. We provide software, and describe the automation of a calculation, for the two invariants in the case of intersection algebras over polynomial rings.
We present results on the Watanabe-Yoshida conjecture for the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of a local ring of positive characteristic. By improving on a "volume estimate" giving a lower bound for Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity, we obtain the conjecture when the ring either has Hilbert-Samuel multiplicity less than or equal to five, or dimension less than or equal to six. For non-regular rings with fixed dimension, a new lower bound for the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is obtained.
We show that the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicities of the reductions to positive characteristics of an irreducible projective curve in characteristic 0 have a well-defined limit as the characteristic tends to infinity.
Let $(R,\m)$ be a formally unmixed local ring of positive prime characteristic and dimension $d$. We examine the implications of having small Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity (i.e., close to 1). In particular, we show that if $R$ is not regular, there exists a lower bound, strictly greater than one, depending only on $d$, for its Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity.
This paper develops a theory of equimultiplicity for Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity and uses it to study the behavior of Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity on the Brenner-Monsky hypersurface. A number of applications follows, in particular we show that Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity attains infinitely many values and that equimultiple strata may not be locally closed.
In preparing the paper "Some extensions of Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity", we had occasion to perform an intricate set of computations pertaining to a single illustrative example. In the end, we have decided not to include the computations in the main paper, but instead to publish them here for later reference. In particular, the current preprint gives an example where the converse to one of our main theorems holds, even though it does not fit into any of the previously known cases where a converse holds.
Let R denote a two-dimensional normal standard-graded domain over the algebraic closure K of a finite field of characteristic p, and let I denote a homogeneous primary ideal. We prove that the Hilbert-Kunz function of I has the form = e_{HK}(I) q^{2} + g (q) with rational Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity e_{HK}(I) and an eventually periodic function g (q).
A result of Watanabe and Yoshida says that an unmixed local ring of positive characteristic is regular if and only if its Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is one. We show that, for fixed $p$ (characteristic) and $d$ (dimension), there exist a number $ε(d,p) > 0$ such that any nonregular unmixed ring $R$ has Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity at least $1+ε(d,p)$. We also show that local rings with sufficiently small Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity are Cohen-Macaulay and $F$-rational.
Let F be a finite field of characteristic 2 and h be the element x^3+y^3+xyz of F[[x,y,z]]. In an earlier paper we made a precise conjecture as to the values of the colengths of the ideals (x^q,y^q,z^q,h^j) for q a power of 2. We also showed that if the conjecture holds then the Hilbert-Kunz series of H=uv+h is algebraic (of degree 2) over Q(w), and that mu(h) is algebraic (explicitly, (4/3)+(5/14)sqrt(7)). In this note, assuming the same conjecture, we use a theory of infinite matrices to rederive this result, and we extend it to a wider class of H; for example H=g(u,v)+h. In a follow-up pape…
We show that Bertini theorems hold for $F$-signature and Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity. In particular, if $X \subseteq \mathbb{P}^n$ is normal and quasi-projective with $F$-signature greater than $λ$ (respectively the Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity is less than $λ$) at all points $x \in X$, then for a general hyperplane $H \subseteq \mathbb{P}^n$ the $F$-signature (respectively Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity) of $X \cap H$ is greater than $λ$ (respectively less than $λ$) at all points $x \in X \cap H$.
We show that the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is a rational number for an R_+-primary homogeneous ideal I=(f_1, ..., f_n) in a two-dimensional graded domain R of finite type over an algebraically closed field of positive characteristic. Moreover we give a formula for the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity in terms of certain rational numbers coming from the strong Harder-Narasimhan filtration of the syzygy bundle Syz(f_1, . . ., f_n) on the projective curve Y = Proj R.
For a pair $(M, I)$, where $M$ is finitely generated graded module over a standard graded ring $R$ of dimension $d$, and $I$ is a graded ideal with $\ell(R/I) < \infty$, we introduce a new invariant $HKd(M, I)$ called the {\em Hilbert-Kunz density function}. In Theorem 1.1, we relate this to the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity $e_{HK}(M,I)$ by an integral formula. We prove that the Hilbert-Kunz density function is additive. Moreover it satisfies a multiplicative formula for a Segre product of rings. This gives a formula for $e_{HK}$ of the Segre product of rings in terms of the HKd of the rings invo…
We describe the possible restrictions of the cotangent bundle Ω_{\PP^N} to an elliptic curve C \subset \PP^N. We apply this in positive characteristic to the computation of the Hilbert-Kunz function of a homogeneous R_+-primary ideal I \subset R in the graded section ring R = \bigoplus_{n \in \NN} Γ(C, Ø(n)).
Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic $p > 0$. We show that if $X\subseteq\mathbb{P}^n_k$ is an equidimensional subscheme with Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity less than $λ$ at all points $x\in X$, then for a general hyperplane $H\subseteq\mathbb{P}^n_k$, the Hilbert--Kunz multiplicity of $X\cap H$ is less than $λ$ at all points $x\in X\cap H$. This answers a conjecture and generalizes a result of Carvajal-Rojas, Schwede and Tucker, whose conclusion is the same as ours when $X\subseteq\mathbb{P}^n_k$ is normal. In the process, we substantially generalize certain uniform estimate…
This paper concerns the question of whether a more direct limit can be used to obtain the limit Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity, a possible candidate for a characteristic zero Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity. The main goal is to establish an affirmative answer for one of the main cases for which the limit Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is even known to exist, namely that of graded ideals in the homogeneous coordinate ring of smooth projective curves. The proof involves more careful estimates of bounds found independently by Brenner and Trivedi on the dimensions of the cohomologies of twists of the syzygy bundl…
We determine the Hilbert-Kunz function of plane elliptic curves in odd characteristic, as well as over arbitrary fields the generalized Hilbert-Kunz functions of nodal cubic curves. Together with results of K. Pardue and P. Monsky, this completes the list of Hilbert-Kunz functions of plane cubics. Combining these results with the calculation of the (generalized) Hilbert-Kunz function of Cayley's cubic surface, it follows that in each degree and over any field of positive characteristic there are curves resp. surfaces taking on the minimally possible Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity.
We compute the Hilbert-Kunz functions of two-dimensional rings of type ADE by using representations of their indecomposable, maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules in terms of matrix factorizations, and as first syzygy modules of homogeneous ideals.
In this paper, we estimate the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of the (extended) Rees algebras in terms of some invariants of the base ring. Also, we give an explicit formula for the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicities of Rees algebras over Veronese subrings.
Let k be an arbitrary field (of arbitrary characteristic) and let X = [x_{i,j}] be a generic m x n matrix of variables. Denote by I_2(X) the ideal in k[X] = k[x_{i,j}: i = 1, ..., m; j = 1, ..., n] generated by the 2 x 2 minors of X. We give a recursive formulation for the lengths of the k[X]-module k[X]/(I_2(X) + (x_{1,1}^q,..., x_{m,n}^q)) as q varies over all positive integers using Grobner basis. This is a generalized Hilbert-Kunz function, and our formulation proves that it is a polynomial function in q. We give closed forms for the cases when m is at most 2, %as well as the closed forms …
We develop Hilbert-Kunz theory in a combinatorial setting namely for binoids. We show that the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity for commutative, finitely generated, semipositive, cancellative and reduced binoids exists and is a rational number. This implies that the corresponding Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity for the binoid algebras does not depend on the characteristic.
We prove that the Hilbert-Kunz function of the ideal $(I,It)$ of the Rees algebra $\mathcal{R}(I)$, where $I$ is an $\mathfrak{m}$-primary ideal of a $1$-dimensional local ring $(R,\mathfrak{m})$, is a quasi-polynomial in $e$, for large $e.$ For $s \in \mathbb{N}$, we calculate the Hilbert-Samuel function of the $R$-module $I^{[s]}$ and obtain an explicit description of the generalized Hilbert-Kunz function of the ideal $(I,It)\mathcal{R}(I)$ when $I$ is a parameter ideal in a Cohen-Macaulay local ring of dimension $d \geq 2$, proving that the generalized Hilbert-Kunz function is a piecewise p…
In the paper, by the singular Riemann-Roch theorem, it is proved that the class of the e-th Frobenius power can be described using the class of the canonical module for a normal local ring of positive characteristic. As a corollary, we prove that the coefficient of the second term of the Hilbert-Kunz function of a finitely generated A-module M vanishes if A is a Q-Gorenstein ring and M is of finite projective dimension. For a normal algebraic variety X over a perfect field of positive characteristic, it is proved that the first Chern class of the direct image of the structure sheaf via e-th Fr…
We discuss Hilbert-Kunz function from when it was originally defined to its recent developments. A brief history of Hilbert-Kunz theory is first recounted. Then we review several techniques involved in the study of Hilbert-Kunz functions by presenting some illustrative proofs without going into details of the technicalities. The second part of this article focuses on the Hilbert-Kunz function of an affine normal semigroup ring and relates it to Ehrhart quasipolynomials. We pay extra attention to its periodic behavior and discuss how the cellular decomposition constructed by Bruns and Gubeladze…
We prove that, analogous to the HK density function, (used for studying the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity, the leading coefficient of the HK function), there exists a $β$-density function $g_{R, {\bf m}}:[0,\infty)\longrightarrow {\mathbb R}$, where $(R, {\bf m})$ is the homogeneous coordinate ring associated to the toric pair $(X, D)$, such that $$\int_0^{\infty}g_{R, {\bf m}}(x)dx = β(R, {\bf m}),$$ where $β(R, {\bf m})$ is the second coefficient of the Hilbert-Kunz function for $(R, {\bf m})$, as constructed by Huneke-McDermott-Monsky. Moreover we prove, (1) the function $g_{R, {\bf m}}:[0, \in…
For a toric pair $(X, D)$, where $X$ is a projective toric variety of dimension $d-1\geq 1$ and $D$ is a very ample $T$-Cartier divisor, we show that the Hilbert-Kunz density function $HKd(X, D)(λ)$ is the $d-1$ dimensional volume of ${\overline {\mathcal P}}_D \cap \{z= λ\}$, where ${\overline {\mathcal P}}_D\subset {\mathbb R}^d$ is a compact $d$-dimensional set (which is a finite union of convex polytopes). We also show that, for $k\geq 1$, the function $HKd(X, kD)$ can be replaced by another compactly supported continuous function $φ_{kD}$ which is `linear in $k$'. This gives the formula f…
We prove that the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is upper semi-continuous in F-finite rings and algebras of essentially finite type over an excellent local ring.
In this thesis we compute the Hilbert-Kunz functions of two-dimensional rings of type ADE by using representations of their indecomposable, maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules in terms of matrix factorizations, and as first syzygy modules of homogeneous ideals. For these computations we need to compute the Hilbert-series of the involved first syzygy modules as well as the fact that the surface rings of type ADE defined over the complex numbers are the rings of invariants of C[x,y] under actions defined by the finite subgroups of SL2(C). Finally, we will show that the developed tools can be used to …
We define a function, called s-multiplicity, that interpolates between Hilbert-Samuel multiplicity and Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity by comparing powers of ideals to the Frobenius powers of ideals. The function is continuous in s, and its value is equal to Hilbert-Samuel multiplicity for small values of s and is equal to Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity for large values of s. We prove that it has an Associativity Formula generalizing the Associativity Formulas for Hilbert-Samuel and Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity. We also define a family of closures such that if two ideals have the same s-closure then they ha…
Let $R$ be a local ring of characteristic $p>0$ which is $F$-finite and has perfect residue field. We compute the generalized Hilbert-Kunz invariant for certain modules over several classes of rings: hypersurfaces of finite representation type, toric rings, $F$-regular rings.
We show that the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of a $d$-dimensional nonregular complete intersection over the algebraic closure of $F_p$, $p>2$ prime, is bounded by below by the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of the hypersurface $\sum _{i=0}^{d} x_i^2=0$, answering positively a conjecture of Watanabe and Yoshida in the case of complete intersections.
The aim of this manuscript is to discuss the Hilbert-Kunz functions over an excellent local ring regular in codimension one. We study the shape of the Hilbert-Kunz functions of modules and discuss the properties of the coefficient of the second highest term in the function. Our results extend Huneke, McDermott and Monsky's result (Math. Res. Lett. 11 (2004), no. 4, 539-546) about the shape of the Hilbert-Kunz functions, and a theorem of the second author (J. Algebra 304 (2006), no. 1, 487-499) for rings with weaker conditions. In this paper, for a Cohen-Macaulay ring, we also explores an equiv…
Let I denote a homogeneous R_+-primary ideal in a two-dimensional normal standard-graded domain over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero. We show that a homogeneous element f belongs to the solid closure I^* if and only if e_{HK}(I) = e_{HK}((I,f)), where e_{HK} denotes the (characteristic zero) Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of an ideal. This provides a version in characteristic zero of the well-known Hilbert-Kunz criterion for tight closure in positive characteristic.
In this paper we give new lower bounds on the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of unmixed non-regular local rings, bounding them uniformly away from one. Our results improve previous work of Aberbach and Enescu.
We establish the continuity of Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity and F-signature as functions from a Cohen-Macaulay local ring $(R,\m,k)$ of prime characteristic to the real numbers at reduced parameter elements with respect to the $\m$-adic topology.
We give bounds for the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of the product of two ideals, and we characterize the equality in terms of the tight closures of the ideals. Connections are drawn with $*$-spread and with ordinary length calculations.
Suppose B=F[x,y,z]/h is the homogeneous coordinate ring of a characteristic p degree 3 irreducible plane curve C with a node. Let J be a homogeneous (x,y,z)-primary ideal and n -> e_n be the Hilbert-Kunz function of B with respect to J. Let q=p^n. When J=(x,y,z), Pardue (see R. Buchweitz, Q. Chen. Hilbert-Kunz functions of cubic curves and surfaces. J. Algebra 197 (1997). 246-267) showed that e_n=(7q^2)/3-q/3-R where R=5/3 if q is congruent to 2 (3), and is 1 otherwise. We generalize this, showing that e_n= (mu q^2) + (alpha q) - R where R only depends on q mod 3. We describe alpha and R in te…
We present a unified approach to the study of Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity, F-signature, and related limits governed by Frobenius and Cartier linear actions in positive characteristic commutative algebra. We introduce general techniques that give vastly simplified proofs of existence, semicontinuity, and positivity. Furthermore, we give an affirmative answer to a question of Watanabe and Yoshida allowing the F-signature to be viewed as the infimum of relative differences in the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicites of the cofinite ideals in a local ring.
In this article, I give an iterative closed form formula for the Hilbert-Kunz function for any binomial hypersurface in general, over any feild of arbitrary positive characteristic. I prove that the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity associated to any Binomial Hypersurface over any field of arbitrary positive characteristic is rational. As an example, I also prove the well known fact that for 1-dimensional Binomial Hypersurfaces, the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is a positive integer and give a precise account of the integer.
We prove that the generalized Hilbert-Kunz function of a graded module $M$ over a two-dimensional standard graded normal $K$-domain over an algebraically closed field $K$ of prime characteristic $p$ has the form $gHK(M,q)=e_{gHK}(M)q^{2}+γ(q)$, with rational generalized Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity $e_{gHK}(M)$ and a bounded function $γ(q)$. Moreover we prove that if $R$ is a $\mathbb{Z}$-algebra, the limit for $p\rightarrow+\infty$ of the generalized Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity $e_{gHK}^{R_p}(M_p)$ over the fibers $R_p$ exists and it is a rational number.
We prove in a broad combinatorial setting, namely for finitely generated semipositive cancellative reduced binoids, that the Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity is a rational number independent of the characteristic.
A result of Monsky states that the Hilbert-Kunz function of a one-dimensional local ring of prime characteristic has a term $ϕ$ that is eventually periodic. For example, in the case of a power series ring in one variable over a prime-characteristic field, $ϕ$ is the zero function and is therefore immediately periodic with period 1. In additional examples produced by Kunz and Monsky, $ϕ$ is immediately periodic with period 2. We show that, for every positive integer $π$, there exists a ring for which $ϕ$ is immediately periodic with period $π$.
We use the results of our paper "p-Fractals and power series--I" (Journal of Algebra 280, 2004, pp. 505--536) to prove the rationality of the Hilbert-Kunz series of a large family of power series, including those of the form \sum_i f_i(x_i,y_i), where the f_i(x_i,y_i) are power series with coefficients in a finite field. The methods are effective, as we illustrate with examples. In the final section, which can be read independently of the others, we obtain more precise results for the Hilbert-Kunz function of the 3 variable power series z^D-h(x,y).
Given a commutative local ring $(R,\mathfrak m)$ and an ideal $I$ of $R$, a family of quotients of the Rees algebra $R[It]$ has been recently studied as a unified approach to the Nagata's idealization and the amalgamated duplication and as a way to construct interesting examples, especially integral domains. When $R$ is noetherian of prime characteristic, we compute the Hilbert-Kunz function of the members of this family and, provided that either $I$ is $\mathfrak{m}$-primary or $R$ is regular and F-finite, we also find their Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity. Some consequences and examples are explor…
In this paper, we ask the following question: what is the minimal value of the difference $e_{HK}(I) - e_{HK}(I')$ for ideals $I' \supseteq I$ with $l_A(I'/I) =1$? In order to answer to this question, we define the notion of minimal Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity for strongly F-regular rings. Moreover, we calculate this invariant for quotient singularities and for the coordinate ring of the Segre embedding: $P^{r-1} \times P^{s-1} \hookrightarrow P^{rs-1}$, respectively.
We study Hilbert-Kunz multiplicity of the powers of an ideal and establish existence of the second coefficient at the full level of generality, thus extending a recent result of Trivedi. We describe the second coefficient as the limit of the Hilbert coefficients of Frobenius powers and show that it is additive in short exact sequences and satisfies a Northcott-type inequality.
We prove the existence of HK density function for a pair $(R, I)$, where $R$ is a ${\mathbb N}$-graded domain of finite type over a perfect field and $I\subset R$ is a graded ideal of finite colength. This generalizes our earlier result where one proves the existence of such a function for a pair $(R, I)$, where, in addition $R$ is standard graded. As one of the consequences we show that if $G$ is a finite group scheme acting linearly on a polynomial ring $R$ of dimension $d$ then the HK density function $f_{R^G, {\bf m}_G}$, of the pair $(R^G, {\bf m}_G)$, is a piecewise polynomial function o…
